Hennessy super with six

Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey dominated the night on Saturday at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The veteran reinsman piled up six winners on the card including piloting all three members of the Jessica Okusko-trained hat trick. Okusko’s Natameri (American Ideal) was the 6-5 betting favorite in the evening’s feature with Hennessey at the controls.

Natameri, a six year old, drew post six for his third try in the local Open this season following a second-place finish in his most recent try in the Spa feature contested last month. On Saturday, Hennessey wasted little time moving the Okusko trainee to the front-end where he posted first half fractions of 27.1 and 56.2 before being confronted by Vintage Cheddar N (Jimmy Devaux) who was making just his second start in five months. While Natameri clicked off three quarters in 1:24, he was forced to fend off Vintage Cheddar N whose bid at the mild upset was thwarted when Natameri scampered off from his rivals in the stretch to record the 1:52.1 score in the Open.

Pocket-sitter Talking Tom (Chris Long) wound up as the runner-up for the second consecutive week in the $15,000 feature while Vintage Cheddar N held on for third.