Hennessey not shy about winning, scores seven Sunday

It was another big afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday (July 1) for Hall of Fame harness racing driver Wally Hennessey. The veteran reinsman piloted seven winners on the card including a score in the afternoon’s feature.

Hennessey sat behind the 1-9 betting favorite in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open on Monday for trainer Mark Beckwith as Arizona looked to threepeat while returning to town off a career-best score. Arizona drew post position six in the six-horse ladies’ Open and Hennessey situated her fourth in the early going.

The fractions were fierce in the feature and while Magical Maya A (Brian Cross) traveled unopposed, she did so behind a 27.2 first quarter and a 55.4 half. Arizona made her move past the half and just unloaded on the competition, pacing into an insurmountable lead heading towards the three-quarter pole.

Hennessey was just a passenger as Arizona powered away from her rivals to win by a commanding three lengths, stopping the timer in 1:52.4. Alittlesidehustl N (Billy Dobson) came on to finish a clear second while Magical Maya A wound up a well-beaten third place finisher.

ARIZONA REPLAY

Arizona won for the second consecutive time in the local feature and seventh time of the season overall. The five-year-old distaffer is owned by Wendy Timpano of Ontario, Canada.

Hennessey made seven trips to the winner’s circle today, three of them coming with Beckwith trainees. Veteran pacing mare Bronze Over N went coast-to-coast in a $9,000 claiming event for pacing mares while young trotter Disco Wiz recorded his fifth victory of the season cruising to his third consecutive score.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a 5:00 pm first post.

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

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway