The Open Trot at the 2019 Hollywood Dayton meet has produced a host of different winners and in keeping with the trend the weekly $17,500 feature produced another new winner’s circle visitor on Thursday night.
Whata Swan (John DeLong), a sophomore son of Swan For All, added his name to the lengthening list by beating Lindys Big Bang (Brandon Bates) and Sweet Mr Pinetucky in 1:54.2 as the lukewarm favourite. The Katricia Adams trainee got away fourth for DeLong, moved up to third on the outside at the half, overtook frontrunner Tugboat Tuffy (Josh Sutton) at the three quarters, then held off a quartet of closers in the stretch.
It was the seventh win in 24 tries for Whata Swan and increased his seasonal earnings to $124,059. The 1:54.2 clocking was just two-fifths of a second off his lifetime best which was taken in stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this summer. John Barnard of Miami, Florida owns the classy colt who earned $22,418 as a two-year-old before bursting onto the Indiana stakes scene this year.
What Swan paid $6.40 to win; coupled with 10-1 shot Lindys Big Bang the $2 Exacta returned $34.80.
Racing resumes Friday night at Hollywood Dayton including a $6,000 guaranteed pool in the seventh race 20-cent Hi-5. First race post time is 6:05 p.m.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)