Bridge Works made his debut for trainer Brett Derue a winning one, capturing Monday's (Aug. 2) $14,000 Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Wally Hennessey piloted the five-year-old Dejarmbro gelding, who was tasked with facing Exarch and Cash Me Out, a pair of trotters who had combined to win six of the previous seven Open Trots at Saratoga. With Cash Me Out setting soft fractions on the lead, Bridge Works powered up first-over and cruised to the fore with a :27.4 third quarter. He then opened up a sizeable lead turning for home, and, despite eventual runner-up Gettin Messi (Chris Long) and third-place finisher Lazzaro (Billy Dobson) closing in the stretch, held on to win in 1:56.2.
Bridge Works, whom Derue acquired with Stephen Picarazzi, Scott Petillo and Darreyl Bullard last week, paid $9.50 to win.
The same connections also won the opener with Meadowbrook Nate, who prevailed in his local debut with Jimmy Devaux in the sulky.
Live racing at Saratoga continues on Tuesday (Aug. 3) with post time at 12 noon.
(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)