38-1 longshot ends 1/9 shot’s win streak

On Monday afternoon (Oct. 31), Ashestodiamonds (Betterthancheddar) did what no harness racing mare has been able to do in nearly a month’s time at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

That is, she defeated Racey Rach N.

Racey Rach N went an incredible eleven-for-eleven to begin her career at the Spa putting together a local win streak unheard of for decades. In Monday’s third leg of the Bunny Lake Pacing Series, Racey Rach N (Chris Long) went off at odds of 1-9 for the seventh straight time despite drawing post five in her five-horse division of the series.

Longshot Ashestodiamonds displayed early speed in the third leg and the Eve Bergeron trainee who hadn’t been a factor in the first two legs of the series made her impression on Monday. Leading driver Jimmy Devaux sat behind Ashestodiamonds who was dismissed at odds of 38-1 when she toughed out a wire-to-wire win sending Racey Rach N to defeat for the first time since the New Zealand invader came to the U.S. this summer.

The five-year-old Ashestodiamonds only owned one win in twenty starts in the 2022 campaign heading into what wound up being the biggest victory of her young career. Racey Rach N fought gamely first-over but had to settle for second in the $12,500 third leg of the series while Sakebomb Blue Chip (Brian Cross) earned the show spot.

ASHESTODIAMONDS REPLAY

Paying $79.50 to win on an afternoon that featured a handful of big upsets at the Spa, Ashestodiamonds led an exacta with the favorite second that paid $90 while the triple returned $500 in the five-horse field. The winner is owned by Dany Grenier of Quebec, Canada.

The other division of the third leg of the Bunny Lake Pace went the way of Way Too Sweet (Rockin Image).

The Andy Gardner-trained filly has had a nice season at the Spa and recorded the biggest win of young career on Monday when she powered up and past her race’s leader to score in leg three of the series recording a lifetime best 1:55.2 victory.

Jordan Derue piloted the three-year-old filly for owners George Tackley and Wendy Storrier. Way Too Sweet was the 6-5 betting favorite in her division of the Bunny Lake Pace which concludes next week with a Final going for more than $30,000.

WAY TOO SWEET REPLAY

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm. There will be a $2,466 carryover in the pick five which begins in the first race.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway