Bridge Works & Hennessey, perfect together

Harness racing trainer Brett Derue has had another terrific season this year at Saratoga Casino Hotel and the top-flight conditioner enjoyed another big day on Monday afternoon.

Derue is part of the ownership group who acquired trotter Bridge Works (Dejarmbro) this week and debuted him in the Open Trot on Monday. Wally Hennessey piloted Bridge Works who was tasked with facing the combo of Exarch and Cash Me Out who between them had won six of the previous seven installments of the Open Trot.

With Cash Me Out setting soft fractions on the engine, Bridge Works powered up first-over and cruised past the millionaire trotter highlighted by a third quarter in which he trotted 27.4.

The five year old opened up a sizeable lead turning for home and despite having rivals Gettin Messi (Chris Long) and Lazzaro (Billy Dobson) closing in on him in the stretch held on to win the $14,000 feature in 1:56.2.

BRIDGE WORKS REPLAY

Bridge Works paid $9.50 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta with Gettin Messi second that came back $207. The triple with Lazzaro third returned $2,022.

Bridge Works was one of two winners on the day for the ownership team of Picarazzi, Petillo, Bullard and Derue, all of NY, whose Meadowbrook Nate prevailed in his Saratoga debut in the afternoon’s opener with leading driver Jimmy Devaux in the sulky.

Live racing continues on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee kicking off at noon.

For full race results, click here.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway