Count Speed (Majestic Son) prevailed on Friday night in the local Open for the first time this season at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
The Dan Hennessey-trained trotter was one of the nominees for Trotter of the Year last year at the Spa and returned to town in April fresh off an Open victory at Pompano Park.
Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey piloted Count Speed on Friday for the first time since coming back to town and the veteran reinsman wasted no time putting the five-year-old on the front end. Parking out a rival along the way, Count Speed had plenty left in the tank to secure a 1:58.3 win over a sloppy track and through the rain.
Pocket sitter Obrigado (Kim Crawford) was the runner up in the $17,000 feature while Political Desire (Billy Dobson) overcame a tough trip to earn the show spot. For Count Speed, it was the fourth win on the season after a 2013 campaign in which he scored nine victories.
by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway
