Kevin McDermott sent three horses to the track on Sunday (Sept. 15) afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel and all three returned as winners, including Delayed Hanover in the featured $20,270 Open Handicap Trot.
Delayed Hanover and Wally Hennessey went to the gate in post eight as the bettors' choice. Hennessey sent Delayed Hanover forward out of the gate, but retreated into fifth as Wishing Barefoot (Billy Dobson) and Inaminute Hanover (Jay Randall) battled early to the quarter in :28. Inaminute Hanover took command of the field through to the half in :57.1 and Delayed Hanover moved to the outside, chipping away at the leaders. He sat third on the outside at the half and moved into the lead from the outside at the 1:25.3 three-quarters. From there, the race moved from an eight-horse race to a two-horse duel between Delayed Hanover and Inaminute Hanover to a one-horse race as Delayed Hanover pulled away.
With a :29.3 final panel, Delayed Hanover was able to continue home to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Inaminute Hanover finished second while Malibu Kid (Mitchell Cushing) rounded out the top three.
Reid Wissner owns the six-year-old son of Southwind Frank and the Credit Winner mare Dont Wait Up. He paid $2.90 to win.
McDermott also won with Dignified Wheat ($5.10), a full brother to Delayed Hanover who was driven to a two-length triumph in 2:00.3 by Wally Hennessey. Wissner also owns the freshman winner.
Reign Of Honor ($3.70) completed the training hat trick with an eight-length romp in the card finale in 1:57.2. Jay Randall was in the bike of the eight-year-old Father Patrick - Margarita Momma gelding.
Wally Hennessey and Jim Devaux each piloted four winners on the matinee card.
Racing at the Spa resumes on Monday (Sept. 16) afternoon with a first post of 12 p.m.
(Saratoga Raceway)