Saratoga Springs, NY – A victory in the feature highlighted a huge afternoon on Saturday (May 16) at Saratoga Casino Hotel for driver Wally Hennessey.
The veteran Hennessey returned to town last month and wasted little time making an impact in the sulky. On Saturday, the Hall of Famer piled up five winners on the matinee card, led by a score in the Open Pace behind the Jackie Greene-trained Frisco Bay N.
Frisco Bay N, a two-time Open winner early in the season at the Spa, marched out to the early lead in the $18,000 feature. Setting sizzling fractions of :26.4 and :55.4 in lap one, Frisco Bay N felt just mild pressure through three-quarters of 1:24 while bracing for pocket-sitter Prairie Rocknroll (driven by Billy Dobson), who followed the leader’s every move throughout.
The even-money favorite in the feature, Prairie Rocknroll popped the pocket around the final turn and made a run at Frisco Bay N in the stretch before coming up second-best in a 1:52.1 mile. Longshot In Excess N (Larry Stalbaum) finished third.
Frisco Bay N’s win was the fourth of the season for the son of Downbytheseaside and third in the local Open Pace.
For Hennessey, the Open victory was one of five on the afternoon in what was the biggest day of the 2026 campaign for the 69-year-old seasoned veteran. Hennessey piloted three winners for trainer Brett Derue on Saturday.
Live racing continues on Sunday (May 17) with a matinee set to begin at noon.