Cinnamon Stick and Swizzle Hanover take Open Trots

May 12, 2022

With the morning line favorite Chip Chip Conway scratched, this week Greg Merton changed his driving tactic aboard Cinnamon Stick and opted to cut the mile, the tactic worked like a charm, leaving from post position 5 Cinnamon grabbed the lead from ER Shane (Bruce Aldrich Jr) just past the quarter pole in 29.1. Cinnamon Stick was on cruise control from there with splits of 59.2, 1:29.2. ER Shane was in the garden spot the entire mile and took a shot at Cinnamon Stick in a spirited stretch drive but came up just a nose short as Cinnamon Stick tripped the tele timer in 1:58.4. Cinnamon Stick is trained by Greg Decker for owner Michael C. Mulligan of Liberty, NY, it was the 8th win of the season for the 7 YO gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse.

Swizzle Hanover was not detoured by post position 6 in the first of 2 of the cards $7,300 Open Trots, the betting favorite Golden Genes cut the mile, Kyle Dibennedetto was on the move with Swizzle Hanover past the half and methodically ground his way to first over at the ¾ mile marker in 1:29.1, from there it was smooth sailing at the Keith Haase trainee had 4 lengths on the field heading for home and increase the winning margin to 5, scoring in 1:59.4 – $29.20. Finishing second was Sweet Royalty (Brandon Parker) followed by Golden Genes.

Jim Taggart Jr. Bruce Aldrich Jr and Greg Merton all had driving doubles on the card, trainer Dave Dziengiel had another winner this week, today his barn scored with Prophet Blue Chip (Bruce Aldrich Jr.)