SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – John Hendrickson said there was never a question that he would keep the stable going after the death of his wife, Marylou Whitney, the Queen of Saratoga, two years ago.  On Thursday, the day Saratoga came back to life with fans in the stands – 27,760 to be exact – the Whitney homebred Pretty Birdie scored a two-length, gate-to-wire victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Mainstay, who inherited the favorite’s role after morning-line choice Happy Soul scratched due to a temperature, finished second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of Saucy Lady T. Velvet Sister was fourth, followed by Cartel Queen, Eagle Express, and Queen Camilla. Pipeline Girl also scratched. Marylou Whitney died on July 19, 2019, at the age of 93. Her and her family’s impact on Saratoga was immeasurable, helping revive this track and town during the 1970s.  “This is where she felt the most alive, and I wanted to keep her alive and this is the way she is alive and she has a win on opening day,” Hendrickson said. Pretty Birdie, trained by Norm Casse, was coming off a debut win at Churchill Downs under Joe Talamo in which she led from start to finish. Breaking from the rail, those were the tactics Casse and jockey Luis Saez were going to employ Thursday. “That’s why we put Luis in the irons, I knew going in I had a horse that’s extremely quick,” Casse said. “I think we took advantage of the fact we probably got the best rider for this type of horse.” Pretty Birdie broke running, opened up a 1 1/2-length lead after an opening quarter in 22.29 seconds. Mainstay, who bobbled at the break, was hustled into second by Frankie Pennington. Pretty Birdie ran a half-mile in 45.82 and despite switching back to her left lead in the stretch, was able to hold Mainstay at bay. :: Visit DRF's Saratoga shop for all your handicapping needs: Past performances, picks, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more Pretty Birdie, a daughter of Whitney runners Bird Song and Bird Sense, covered the six furlongs in 1:12.32 and returned $7.60 to win. “I feel like she was a little more green today, she didn’t want to switch leads down the lane,” Casse said. “I was a little concerned about that as she was finishing but I think that’s just her seeing a new place. . . . I think she was gawking around looking, maybe even waiting on the other horse. Those are things we’ll fix before we run her in the Spinaway next.” The Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway is Sept. 4. Casse said he put pressure on himself to win the Schuylerville. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “I thought this was the story of the day,” Casse said. “I thought if we could win the race for Marylou Whitney and John today, with Saratoga opening back up, such a tremendous day, that it would mean the world to a lot of people. Thankfully, Pretty Birdie delivered for us.” Trainer Butch Reid said Pennington was a bit upset that Mainstay wasn’t standing correctly in the gate when the doors opened. “I think if she breaks a little better, who knows?” Reid said. “She didn’t get away from the gate cleanly.”