Saratoga Springs, NY — Sea Shadows (Shadow Play) became the second distaffer to win the Fillies and Mares Open five times in 2022 when on Sunday evening (Sept. 4) she went coast-to-coast in the $16,000 feature.

Sea Shadows paced away to stop the timer in 1:53.2 for her second consecutive win in the Fillies and Mares Open. Cheyanne Mandy photo.

The Melissa Beckwith trainee drew post seven in the seven-horse Open but driver Brett Beckwith was undaunted by the post draw and marched the classy mare out to the early lead. The 7-year-old paid a stiff price to get to the engine, posting a first quarter in :27.4 before reaching the half in :56.2 while traveling unopposed once she got to the front end.

Sea Shadows saw very little pressure before turning for home with a commanding lead. Pocket-sitter Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) put in a solid effort to be second but was no match for the favored Sea Shadows who paced away to stop the timer in 1:53.2 for her second consecutive win in the Fillies and Mares Open and fifth score since coming to town in early June. The race’s longshot Unstoppable Hall (Steve Rybka) earned the show spot.

For Sea Shadows and her owner Paul O’Neil, it was victory number 12 on the season which put her over the $100,000 mark in earnings on the ’22 campaign. The exacta with the 3-5 betting favorite on top paid $7.60 while the triple came back $64.50. Sea Shadows’ five Open wins ties her with Chasethecloudsaway for most among fillies and mares.

Live racing resumes on Friday evening with a first post time set for 5 p.m. The post-Labor day schedule for the month of September will include Friday and Saturday evening racing at 5 p.m. while Sunday and Monday matinees begin at Noon.