Saratoga Springs, NY — With no Open Pace on the docket, Carrythetorchman (American Ideal) prevailed in the featured $10,500 race at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night (Aug. 17). 

Wally Hennessey sat behind the Brett Derue-trained 6-year-old who drew the rail in his return to town following a try at Tioga Downs last week. Carrythetorchman finished first or second in four of his five most recent local starts heading into Saturday’s try which saw him become the public’s 4-5 betting favorite. 

Aided by his pole control, Hennessey put all of his rivals in line in the early going and wound up on the front-end in a first half in :57.4. The Derue trainee never suffered an anxious moment in going wire-to-wire in 1:53.1 for his sixth victory of the season. Hunky Hanover (Matt Athearn) closed late to finish second to the favorite while longshot Jay Bracken A (Brett Crawford) earned the show spot.

Carrythetorchman’s connections of Hennessey and Derue teamed up later in the card for another score with claiming pacer JK Lucky Charms who went coast-to-coast in 1:56 to move his record to four-for-four while under the guidance of his current connections. 

Wally piloted four winners on the night in total including guiding another Derue trainee Flag Party to a decisive 1:53.3 score. Flag Party, though, is trained by Brett’s brother Jordan Derue. Flag Party and Hennessey have teamed up for three consecutive scores as a team. 

Live racing resumes on Thursday evening at Saratoga with a first post time of 5 p.m.