Straight A Student cruised to an effortless victory on Monday afternoon at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The three year old trotting daughter of Credit Winner was making her first start since competing in the $225,000 Empire Breeders Classic Final at Vernon Downs last month. The Paul Kelley-trained sophomore came into the race with four second-place finishes in five starts in 2016 but shook her bridesmaid status on Monday as she dominated with Wally Hennessey in the sulky.
Straight A Student, who secured two of her second place finishes this year while competing in New York Sire Stakes races, was the public’s 1-9 betting favourite on Monday and marched out to the early lead in the $8,000 race for New York Sired trotters. Straight A Student scampered away from her rivals for a dominant win in 1:58.
It served as one of two victories on the day for Hennessey on an afternoon when Frank Coppola, Jr. was the sulky star. Coppola piloted four winners on the holiday matinee card.
Live racing resumes on Thursday at Saratoga with live racing starting at 4:00 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)