Beckwith dominates Saratoga’s Tuesday card

On Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 19), Arizona (Up The Credit) won for the first time since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel earlier in the month.

The Mark Beckwith-trained harness racing mare drew post seven in an eight-horse Fillies and Mares Open and driver Brett Beckwith found some early speed from the five-year-old distaffer who marched onto the front-end in the $15,000 Open.

The fractions were fast in the feature as Arizona clicked off first-half fractions of 27 and 56.3 before being confronted by defending Horse of the Year Always Watching (Jordan Derue) who toughed it out first-over.

The trip took its toll on the track’s top horse of 2023 and Arizona put that one away around the final turn. Pocket sitting favorite Swedish Starlet N (Matt Athearn) took her shot at Arizona in the stretch, but the chase proved futile as the Beckwith trainee held on to win in 1:55 for her first Open victory. Swedish Starlet N was second-best to complete a $9.20 exacta while Always Watching held on to be third and round out a $59.50 triple.

ARIZONA REPLAY

Arizona, who is owned by Wendy Warren Timpano, of Ontario, Canada, paid $4.90 to win in the mile clocked in 1:55. The feature score was one of three on the day for the Beckwith stable and one of six for reinsman Brett Beckwith who has gotten his ’24 campaign off to a sensational start.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time set for 5pm.

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

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway