Saratoga Springs, NY – Send It In Hanover won the Open Trot at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the first time on Monday afternoon (March 2).
Kyle Swift piloted the trotter for trainer Jaymes McAssey and drew the rail for his try in the $16,500 feature. The 5-year-old, who won his seasonal debut at the Spa in early February, finished third in last week’s installment of the Open.
Swift took no prisoners in Monday’s event for high-steppers, cutting the mile with Send It In Hanover, who posted a :27.4 opening quarter before taking the field to the half in :58. The race’s favorite, Platinum AS (Brett Beckwith), took dead aim on the leader through three quarters in 1:27.2 but the McAssey trainee didn’t want to give an inch and turned back the bid from Platinum As around the final turn before drawing clear to win in 1:57.1.
Platinum AS came up second-best while Ordained (Larry Stalbaum) earned the show spot.
Swift and McAssey teamed up for a trio of wins on the trotting-heavy Monday card as their Secret Or Not rattled off his third consecutive victory while National Love AS completed the hat trick for his connections by grinding out a first-over score.
Paul O’Neil owns the Open winner in addition to National Love AS. Send It In Hanover paid $7.68 to win in his Monday score.
Live racing continues on Tuesday (March 3) at Saratoga, with a first post time of noon.