The Secret Is Out

April 25, 2024

The Open Trot featured a full field of 8, the betting public made Secret Or Not (PP5) the 3/5 betting favorite, he left the gate and gradually made his way to the top over Win And Dream. Chip Chip Conway starting from post 6 left alongside Secret or Not was stuck in no man’s land on the outside, Jim Taggart tapped the iron horse for more speed to make the top but Chip made an uncharacterized break and took himself out of contention. Secret or Not remained on the front end through splits of 29, 1:01.1. Itsoneofthose (Schwartz) was the first to start the outer flow past the half. Secret or Not still showed the way to the next panel of 1:30.4, he was never really tested and cruised home an easy winner in 1:59.4 for his third win on the year for trainer Todd Buter.  Win And Dream (Paguet Jr.) was second followed by ER Shane (Aldrich)

Cinnamon Stick seems to be rounding into top form after a slight layoff, this afternoon he overtook Chamba (C. Stratton) in deep stretch for the win in 1:58.3, for his first win of the season for the Greg Decker trained son of Jailhouse Jesse for owner Mike Mulligan of Liberty, NY, the win gave Greg Merton a triple on the day. Jim Devaux had a double on the afternoon.

The battle is on for Leading Dash Trainer, Gary Messenger and Danny Gill are locked in first place with 32 wins each, last year’s leading trainer Laura Aldrich is right behind them with 31 wins.

Mike Merton has a strangle hold on leading driver stats with 81 wins, Jim Taggart is 14 wins behind him in second with 67 wins, Greg Merton rounds out the top three with 64 wins.

Brandon Parker returned to the winner’s circle aboard Virtual Kiss in 1:58.4 – $3.10.