A victory in the feature highlighted a huge afternoon on Saturday at Saratoga Casino Hotel for driver Wally Hennessey. The veteran Hennessey returned to town last month and wasted little time making an impact in the sulky. On Saturday, the Hall of Famer piled up five winners on the matinee card led by a score in the Open Pace behind the Jackie Greene-trained Frisco Bay N. Frisco Bay N (Downbytheseaside), a two-time Open winner early in the season at the Spa, marched out to the early lead in the $18,000 feature. Setting sizzling fractions of 26.4 and 55.4 in lap one, Frisco Bay N felt just mild pressure through three quarters of 1:24 while bracing for pocket-sitter Prairie Rocknroll (Billy Dobson) who followed the leader’s every move throughout. The even-money favorite in the feature, Prairie Rocknroll popped the pocket around the final turn and made a run at Frisco Bay N in the stretch before coming up second-best in a 1:52.1 mile. Longshot In Excess N (Larry Stalbaum) finished third. Frisco Bay N’s win was his fourth of the season and third in the local Open Pace. For Hennessey, the Open victory was one of five on the afternoon in what was the biggest day of the 2026 campaign for the 69-year-old seasoned veteran. Wally piloted three winners for trainer Brett Derue on Saturday.
Live racing continues on Sunday with a matinee set to begin at 12pm.
Mike Sardella | Saratoga Casino Hotel | Saratoga Springs, NY
Jessica Hallett photo
