Don’t Blame Her scores in Saratoga Open

Saratoga Springs, NY — Don’t Blame Her prevailed in the $18,500 Fillies and Mares Open at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Thursday evening.

Dave Oxford photo

Don’t Blame Her was a winner in 1:55.1.

Don’t Blame Her (Village Connection) continued her dominance of the top local mares with a last to first victory that came in 1:55.1. Young driver Joe Bongiorno piloted the 9-year-old mare for his parents, owners Bob and Barbara Bongiorno, and trainer Conor Flynn. The victory was the second straight in the Thursday feature for distaff pacers for the classy veteran.

Don’t Blame Her got away last in the six-horse field, but outkicked her rivals in the stretch after getting a second over journey. Longshot Island Terror (Mark Beckwith) came on for second while Eyewitness Account (Wally Hennessey) held on for third.

The exacta with the even money favorite on top returned a hefty $67 while the triple came back $211.

Don’t Blame Her has now been first or second in seven straight Fillies and Mares Opens at the Spa.

Live racing continues on Friday night at Saratoga with action beginning at 7:20 p.m.

— Mike Sardella

Vernon Downs
Mia’s Star became the season’s winningest equine on the lateral gait after a 1:53.1 spin at Vernon Down on Thursday night. Mia’s Star ($4.90) slugged it out with the favorite, Southwest, throughout Thursday’s $6,800 ninth race, giving up the lead entering the stretch drive and then fighting back in the final strides to earn a 1-1/4 length triumph. Thursday’s tough tally was the third in succession, sixth at the 54-program meeting, ninth this season and 14th all-time for the game-going 4-year-old mare. Defending driving champion Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Enio Barrera and owner Clayton Faurot, Sr. as the bay daughter of Mach Three-Queen Verda increased her career bankroll to $52,315. The trotter My Buddy Hall Lee has also recorded six first-place finishes at the Downs this year.

Scioto Downs
Officially the race was a mile but Air-Stewart needed only a short distance to make it no contest. When driver Ray Paver unleashed Air-Stewart with a quarter-mile remaining, he moved three-wide around the field with ease and drew off to win comfortably by eight lengths in 1:57.4. Jailhouse Juice was second, nosing out Singlenrdytomingle. Danny Collins trains the 4-year-old son of Striking Sahbra for owner Michael Lewis. It was his second win in a row from six starts this season. He was sent off as a 2-5 favorite. G S Ren and driver Kyle Ater set the early fractions while Paver had Air-Stewart back in the pack. When Air-Stewart moved to the front, G S Ren had nothing to offer and finished seventh. Paver drove the winners of three of the evening’s first five races. In the co-featured trot, favored Jailhouse Funk overcame post nine for owner-trainer-driver Sandy Beatty to score a 1:59 win over Fortune Sailor and Roln Master. It was only the second win in 15 starts this season for the gelded 5-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse. Second choice Ticket To Broadway got away fastest for driver Ryan Stahl, then yielded to Miley Jo who was moving fast on the outside. Beatty had Jailhouse Funk in striking position and he surged to the front at the three-quarter pole. Then he had to fight off a determined challenge from Fortune Sailor, but Jailhouse Funk had a solid half-length margin at the wire. Roln Master was 10-3/4 lengths back in third.