Upset winner in Saratoga F&M Open

Always Watching (He’s Watching) and driver Jordan Derue made the most of starting from the rail in wiring the harness racing field and scoring a 14-1 upset win Monday (Sep. 26) at Saratoga Raceway.

The 6^th race $16,000 Open-Handicap Pace for Fillies and Mares saw both Sea Shadows (post 7) and Dashintothebeach N (post 2) go off-stride at the start of the race.

Always Watching was slightly interfered with but still was able to scoot to the front and was up by two lengths at the first quarter in :28.1. So Diva (Leon Bailey) had left and grabbed the two-hole trip as they raced single file to the half mile in :57.1.

Into the backstretch Always Watching received her first challenge as Birch Island Betty (Wally Hennessey) came first-over, giving outside cover to Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) past the three-quarters in 1:25.3.

By the top of the stretch, Always Watching had a two and one-quarter length lead on the field and maintained that advantage right to the wire, winning in 1:54.1. Demeter N was second and So Diva finished third.

ALWAYS WATCHING REPLAY

It was the second straight win and eighth victory of the year for Always Watching, who was moving up in class to the Open ranks for trainer Christopher Dubois. She is owned by the My Buddys Stable and paid $30.60 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink