Saratoga Springs, NY – Soft Shot became the winningest distaffer in the Fillies and Mares Open this season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday (June 9) when the top-flight lady pacer scored in the $18,000 feature for the fifth time in 2026.
Soft Shot has been utilizing a mix of early speed and closing ability to put together the strong resume from her first season of racing at the Spa.
On Tuesday, Soft Shot was co-favored at odds of 8-5 while starting from post four for her try in the ladies’ feature. Kyle Swift,the regular driver for Soft Shot. flashed speed with the top-flight 5-year-old, who made the lead in a speedy :26.4 first quarter before reaching the half in :55.4.
The Jaymes McAssey-trained mare showed no signs of letting up, rattling off three quarters in 1:23.4 before scoring in 1:52.4 to set a new seasonal mark.
The victory was the fifth in the Fillies and Mares Open this year for Soft Shot who has earned over $60,000 on the campaign.
Longshot Macarena Wink (Billy Dobson) sat the pocket to the winner before finishing second while Vel Cinderella (Aaron Byron) earned the show spot in her local debut.
The win was one of three on the day for the 20-year-old Swift, who sits atop the driver standings this season in his first year of piloting full-time at Saratoga. Soft Shot is owned by Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs.
Live racing continues on Wednesday afternoon (June 10) with a 14-race matinee that begins at noon.