Owner John Barnard asked trainer Luis Quevedo to ship Whata Swan across the Indiana-Ohio border on Thursday (Nov. 12), and the result was a 1:53.4 score in the $15,000 Open Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.
When odds-on favourite Refined made a break in stride shortly after the starting car's wings folded, it was anyone's race. Whata Swan (Tyler Smith) elected to allow Pass The Vape (Trevor Smith) and Weslynn Quest (Cameron McCown) to clear to the pylons in front during the :28.1 opening panel. Just past the :57 midway juncture, Whata Swan was sent first-up on the outside to challenge. After closing in on the leader at the 1:24.3 three-quarter station, the four-year-old son of Swan For All pressed to the front early in the stretch and coasted to the line for his sixth seasonal victory.
Weslynn Quest found a seam in the lane to finish second, while Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) closed stoutly to garner third.
Whata Swan paid $13.20 to win, the exacta kicked back $141.40, and the 50-cent trifecta returned $324.50.
Racing resumes Friday night (Nov. 13) at 6:15 p.m. at Hollywood Dayton. The featured $14,500 Open Mares Pace will be race 10 on the 14-race program.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)