SARATOGA SPRINGS – No one appreciates turf racing at the Old Spa more than the trainer-jockey team of Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey, except perhaps their standout grass horse Hap.

The 5-year-old son of Theatrical won yesterday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap for the second straight year, running his record on the Saratoga lawn over the past three summers to 4-for-5, with his only loss coming by a half-length.

Hap swept wide to the lead turning for home and won by 13/4 lengths over a fast-closing Royal Strand, running the mile and an eighth over a good course in a swift 1:47. He paid $3 topping a $10.20 exacta and could make his next start in the Aug. 18 Arlington Million.

Two races earlier, trainer Bobby Frankel’s 3-year-old filly Flute, making her first start since winning the May 4 Kentucky Oaks, prepped for the Aug. 18 Alabama here with a 31/4-length victory in a mile-and-an-eighth allowance race. She paid $2.60.

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