Azeri Sets Purse Mark

Azeri, leading almost all the way under Pat Day, beat the 3-5 favorite, Sightseek, by 1 3/4 lengths Sunday at Saratoga in the $250,000 Go For Wand Stakes to break the North American record for career purses by a female.

Azeri earned $150,000 in the Grade I race to increase her total to $3,569,820. Spain, who was trained by Wayne Lukas, Azeri’s trainer, earned $3,540,542 while running from 1999 to 2002.

Lukas took over the training of Azeri this year after the 6-year-old mare had earned $3,044,820 under trainer Laura de Seroux.

Azeri, the 2002 horse of the year, ended a career-high three-race losing streak.

She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5 and paid $7.90 as the second choice.

Storm Flag Flying finished third in the five-horse field, beaten by 3 3/4 lengths.

“This was a gallant effort by a gallant mare,” Day said.