Dry spell is over for Arizona

Arizona (Up The Credit) has enjoyed another strong season for harness racing trainer Mark Beckwith.

The five-year-old mare, who won fifteen races in 2023, has become a force in the Fillies and Mares Open at both Plainridge Park and Saratoga Casino Hotel this season. The standout mare won three consecutive Opens to begin her summer but encountered a bit of a dry stretch of late having been a beaten favorite in three consecutive Opens and in five of her last six.

On Friday night, Arizona dropped in company to compete in a $10,000 conditional race at Saratoga, one that served as the feature with no Open on the docket. Leading driver Brett Beckwith is the regular reinsman for Arizona who was the 1-5 betting favorite off the drop down when she rushed up to take over the lead past the opening quarter that went in 28.2.

The four-time winner of the local ladies’ Open this year cruised through a fast middle half before checking in at three quarters in 1:24.1 while traveling unopposed. Arizona paced out to an insurmountable lead in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:52.4 as a four-and-a-half length winner.

Fellow Open dropper HS Shauna (Shawn Gray) came on to finish second while Dark Eclipse N (Wally Hennessey) earned the show spot. Arizona is owned by Wendy Timpano of Ontario, Canada.

ARIZONA REPLAY

Live racing continues on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5:00 pm.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Harness