Clover scores again at Saratoga

Clover (Sportswriter) continued her breakout harness racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Friday evening (July 19) when the six-year-old mare won the local feature for the fourth time of the year.

Clover’s connections of trainer Mark Beckwith and driver Brett Beckwith have really dominated the 2024 campaign at the Spa and continued their big season on Friday (July 19) when they teamed up for five more wins.

Clover was the race’s even money favorite in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open that served as the feature on a beautiful evening on the eve of the biggest race of the year at Saratoga. Brett Beckwith got Clover away third in the six-horse Open and made his move on leader Magical Maya A (Larry Stalbaum) heading toward the three-quarter pole.

The Beckwith trainee surged up to take the lead turning for home before drawing off to prevail by a length and a half in a mile clocked in 1:53.3. Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) shook loose late before surging in the stretch to be second to Clover for the second consecutive start. Magical Maya A finished third for the fourth straight time in the ladies’ Open.

CLOVER REPLAY

The victory for Clover was her fourth in the local feature this season and tenth overall in ’24. The Beckwith stable has now sent out the winner of five out of the last six installments of the Fillies and Mares Open. The meet’s leading trainer has alternated Clover with stablemate Arizona, who herself is a four-time winner of the local feature for distaffers this year. Brett Beckwith piloted five winners for his father on the night en route to a six-win evening for the meet’s leading driver.

Live racing continues on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a fourteen-race card highlighted by the $250,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace. There will be over a half million dollars in total purses given out on the evening with the New York Sire Stakes also being featured as two-year-old colt and gelding pacers come to town. First post time is set for 5pm.

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

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway