Hennessey has a monster matinee at Saratoga

Continuing what has been an incredible harness racing season in the sulky for Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey, the veteran reinsman had another monster matinee on Monday at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The 67 year old Hennessey enjoyed a five-win afternoon on Monday highlighted by a victory in the feature and a stretch in which he won five of six races on the card. Wally got the call from trainer Jordan Derue to pilot invader Rec Time, a four year old daughter of Huntsville, who enjoyed a six-figure 2023 campaign.

Rec Time had some difficulties behind the gate in Monday’s feature when she went off at as the 3-5 betting favorite in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Hennessey wound up negotiating a second-over trip with Rec Time who followed Milieu Hanover (Billy Dobson) throughout the second-half of a mile that culminated with seven mares finish within three lengths of one another at the wire.

Rec Time surged late to stop the timer in 1:54.2. Milieu Hanover was out for the majority of the mile and still finished second while Laurie Lee (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot.

Rec Time joined stablemate Waitforever N in scoring Monday victories as Hennessey piloted that Derue trainee to her first local win in her sixth Spa start.

REC TIME REPLAY

Wally Hennessey has surged into second in the driver standings at Saratoga this season despite the fact that he’s driven several hundred less times in ’24 than the majority of his fellow top-drivers.

Derue completed a Monday training triple when he piloted his own Quite Beachy (He’s Watching) to a 1:56.1 victory in an $8,000 conditional race for fillies and mares. 

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5pm.   

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway