Mares shine in Step Up To The Plate Claiming Series

Tuesday (Mar. 21) marked the start of the Step Up To The Plate Claiming Series for harness racing pacing fillies and mares.

The series, which was set to kick off last week before the race card was canceled due to a snowstorm, featured three divisions of the first leg for distaffers.

Much like the series’ for pacing colts and geldings and the one for trotters, the favorites did not thrive. Longshot Broadway Role (Roll With Joe) picked up her first win of the season when she out closed her rivals to prevail in 1:56.4 while dismissed at odds of 9-1.

Chris Long piloted the leg one winner for owner Leonard Sinisgalli and trainer Bob Leslie.

BROADWAY ROLE REPLAY

Ol Little Shift (Western Vintage) continued her stable’s recent hot streak when she swooped the group to score in her $12,500 division of leg one of the series.

Leon Bailey sat behind the Jesse McAssey-trained four-year-old who recorded her second consecutive victory on Tuesday stopping the timer in 1:57.4 for owner Adam Friedland while off at odds of 4-1.

OL LITTLE SHIFT REPLAY

The fastest leg one winner was Cenalta Call Girl (Allamerican Merlin) who completed a huge day for her connections.

Conditioner Melissa Beckwith scored a training triple on the card when Cenalta Call Girl came from well off the pace to power past her rivals and secure leg one’s fastest victory in a time of 1:56.1.

Brett Beckwith guided the nine-year-old to her Tuesday score giving the young reinsman four winners on the matinee program.

Cenalta Call Girl is owned by Bret Pisarski. Leg two will take place next Tuesday (Mar28) in a series that will feature three legs leading up to a Final which will go for a purse of more than $30,000.

CENALTA CALL GIRL REPLAY

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with first post time set for 5:00 pm.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway