Trainer Brett Derue has been sitting in the top three in the trainer standings all year long at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Monday, the veteran conditioner added three wins to his bulky tally to put him right up near the top.

Derue’s Novella Seelster (sired by Sportswriter) gave her trainer his first win on the matinee card when she parlayed her pocket ride to victory with Wally Hennessey at the controls.

Derue quickly went back-to-back as Mini Rose (American Ideal) powered home in the stretch to score in her first start since moving to the Derue stable. Mini Rose drew the rail in an $11,000 conditional event and wound up tipping to the outside before storming in the stretch to score in 1:55.2 with Mitch Cushing piloting.

Derue’s hat trick was completed in the afternoon’s finale when his American Tour N (American Ideal) had little difficulty prevailing in an $11,250 race for fillies and mares. American Tour N popped the pocket past the half and cruised to her fifth victory of the season when she stopped the timer in 1:54.2. The nine-year-old distaffer was guided to the win by Wally Hennessey, who piloted four winners on the Monday card.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with first post time set for 5 p.m. 

(Saratoga Casino Hotel)