Trainer Brett Derue is the midst of a career year at Saratoga Casino Hotel and on Monday, Oct. 16, the meet’s leading conditioner achieved two feats he had yet to accomplish this season.
Derue had five trainees in on Monday’s matinee and the leading trainer recorded four victories. One of the Derue trainees to comprise his grand slam was American Tour N, who won the feature, becoming the first Derue trainee to prevail in the Fillies and Mares Open this season.
American Tour N was piloted by leading driver Jimmy Devaux as she went coast-to-coast in 1:53.1 in the $15,000 Open. Longshot Shallow (Mcgwire Sowers) closed up the inside to be second while Sea Shadows (Wally Hennessey) earned the show spot. American Tour N paid $9.90 to win in the mild upset.
American Tour N's victory was her 10th on the season from 33 starts and the earnings from the Open score lifted the nine-year-old American Ideal mare's career bankroll to more than $267,000. She is co-owned by her trainer and Stephen Picarazzi.
Derue’s mare Shes So Sweet (Billy Dobson) recorded a win in the afternoon’s opener when she toughed out a first-over score in the second leg of the Bunny Lake Pacing Series to get the top trainer’s day started off on the right foot. Derue’s grand slam was rounded out by pacing mare Mini Rose (Wally Hennessey) and veteran trotter Mr Cool Seaeyre N (Brett Beckwith).
Derue lengthened his small lead over Melissa Beckwith in the training column in ’23 with his big day, which concluded with his DWs Darlene finishing second in her attempt to give her stable a clean sweep of the five starts on the day.
Live harness racing resumes on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a first post time set for 5 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)