Let's Go Higher's 1:52.1 equals Saratoga mark

Let's Go Higher (Cole Muffler) matched the all-time track record for older pacing mares at Saratoga Casino and Raceway on Sunday afternoon. Also, at Vernon Downs on Sunday, a :24.4 quarter was posted and it cooked two rivals and set up a victory by You Bet Your Glass.

 

The defending Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year at the Spa, Let's Go Higher parlayed her pocket ride to victory on a warm spring day in the $17,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Shawn Gray piloted the Heidi Rohr-trained mare and sat patiently as pacesetter Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) set sizzling fractions. After two scratches, the Open for distaff pacers was comprised of just five mares and Let's Go Higher wound up besting her rivals in 1:52.1, a time that matched the track record for aged pacing mares. The mark was set by Don't Blame Her in July of 2012.

 

Let's Go Higher was the 6-5 betting favorite in the Sunday feature as she recorded her second victory in the local Open this season.

 

At Vernon Downs Sunday, You Bet Your Glass won the $8,000 feature race. The early fractions for the one-mile pace were testing, to say the least. There was a three-wide pace battle between the race favorite, Firethorn, and two moderate longshots, Some Or Lis and Red Hot Yankee. It seemed that each wanted to dictate the early issue and as a result the opening quarter was posted in :24.4 seconds. This scorching pace ended up costing each of those pacers in the long run.

 

Some Or Lis and Red Hot Yankee were not factors in the race following the opening half-mile of 53.2 seconds. Firethorn held the lead as the field approached the top of the stretch, but then You Bet Your Glass and driver Frank Davis made the winning move and went to the front. You Bet Your Glass ended up scoring by two lengths in a fast final time of 1:50.1. Firethorn ended up also getting passed by a 23-1 shot, Unicorn Hanover, for the place position.

 

You Bet Your Glass is owned by William Williams Jr. of Vernon Center, NY, and Arnold Marks of Perth, Ontario. Marks is also the trainer of the 11-year-old gelding.

 

You Bet Your Glass paid $10.20 to win and with Unicorn Hanover getting up at long odds for second, the $2 exacta payout was $118. The 50-cent trifecta with Firethorn in the third spot returned $136. (Saratoga & Vernon)