Always Watching goes coast-to-coast in Saratoga feature

Always Watching (He’s Watching) became the second distaffer to win the Fillies and Mares Open four times this harness racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel when on Monday (Sept. 18), Jordan Derue’s talented five-year-old went coast-to-coast in the $15,000 feature.

Always Watching has hit the board in every one of her starts dating back to early summer and on Wednesday, she survived a win photo to prevail over a sloppy track. Derue owns, trains and drives Always Watching who moved out to the front-end and carved out first-half fractions of 27 and 56 seconds. The co-second choice in the wagering at odds of 5-2, Always Watching was tracked every step of the way by the race’s favorite Oaxacan Dream N (Jimmy Devaux) who drew even in the stretch with the leader before coming up just shy in a close photo for win. Always Watching stopped the timer in 1:53.2 for her fifth victory of the year and fourth in the local Open. Oaxacan Dream N completed a $26.40 exacta while American Tour N (Wally Hennessey) rounded out a $141.50 triple.

ALWAYS WATCHING REPLAY

Always Watching, an earner of over $100,000 in 2022, is well on her way to another six-digit campaign in ’23. Her fourth score in the ladies’ Open matches La Bella Vita N for most for any mare this season at the Spa.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time of 5pm. There will be a $2,649 carryover in the early Pick Five, a wager that begins in the first race.

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

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway