Alek Chartrand had a productive afternoon with his stable on Tuesday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
A top ten driver this season at the Spa, Chartrand is healing up from a minor injury and thus has handed over driving duties to others this week.
In Tuesday’s feature, Chartrand trainee Onspeed N (Bettors Delight) was in the hands of Wally Hennessey when she drew the rail in the $10,000 feature for fillies and mares. Onspeed N is just two weeks removed from recording a victory in a career-best 1:53.4 with Chartrand in the sulky.
Following a hard-charging third when coming from off the pace last week, Onspeed N cut the mile on Tuesday after reclaiming the lead from rival All Speed Rising (Billy Dobson) approaching the quarter pole. The seven year old New Zealand invader didn’t face much of a challenge before pacing away from her rivals to win in 1:54 with Hennessey at the controls. All Speed Rising sat the pocket and finished second to the 3-5 betting favourite in the feature for distaffers while Pammy Jo (Mark Beckwith) closed sharply to be third.
The win was one of two on the day for Chartrand trainees who are owned by Michael Moore of Old Westbury, NY and one of four for Wally Hennessey who hit a grand slam on the matinee card.
Chartrand and Moore’s other victory on Tuesday came with Special Olivia (Roll With Joe) as that three year old filly put in a big effort to score in a career-best 1:55.2 with leading driver Jimmy Devaux in the sulky.
Devaux, like Hennessey, piloted four winners on the card. Chartrand, who is expected to return to driving soon, now sits in the top ten in both the driver and the trainer standings for the 2021 campaign.
Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)