Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey dominated the night on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

The veteran reinsman piled up six winners on the 14-race card, including piloting all three members of the Jessica Okusko-trained hat trick.

Okusko’s trainee Natameri was the 6-5 betting favourite in the evening’s feature, the $20,548 Open Handicap Pace, with Hennessey at the controls. Natameri, a six-year-old son of American Ideal and Native Daughter, drew post six for his third try in the local Open this season following a close second-place finish in his most recent attempt last month.

On Saturday, Hennessey wasted little time moving the Okusko trainee to the front-end where he posted first half fractions of :27.1 and :56.2 before being confronted by Vintage Cheddar N (Jimmy Devaux), who was making just his second start in five months. While Natameri clicked off three-quarters in 1:24, he was forced to fend off Vintage Cheddar N, whose bid at the mild upset was thwarted when Natameri scampered off from his rivals in the stretch to record the 1:52.1 score. Pocket-sitter Talking Tom (Chris Long) wound up as the runner-up for the second consecutive week while Vintage Cheddar N held on for third.

Natameri, who is owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC of Fairport, New York, reported home a two-length winner.

Okusko completed her training triple on Saturday with a pair of freshmen securing victories in leg one of the Learn & Earn Pacing Series. Bobby Mcgee (Huntsville-Her Music Rocks) and Moonshine Express (Huntsville-Clear View Hanover) each broke their maiden, winning their respective $8,219 divisions of the series. 

Live harness racing resumes on Thursday evening at Saratoga. First post time is set for 5 p.m.

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel; photo of Hennessey with his sixth Saturday winner Texas Miki, from the Zack Gray stable)