from the Hawthorne Publicity Department

Stickney, IL — The tactic changed but the end result remained the same as Two Weeks Notice stayed perfect at Hawthorne and won the $82,000 Erwin F. Dygert Memorial Open Trot Final in front-end fashion with Dave Magee on Saturday night, July 21.

It was Trevor Ritchie hustling Birminghim from the outside nine slot and into the early lead with a: 27.4 first quarter. Magee left hard enough with Two Weeks Notice to drop into third after the first turn and Dave wasted no time going after the early leader.

He sent Two Weeks Notice to the front before the :57 flat half-mile marker and the 6-year-old son of Yankee Glide had little trouble winning for the fourth consecutive time for owners Jason and Matt Sullinger.

“I felt like I had the best horse in the race,” said Magee. “We’ve had pretty easy journeys both times I’ve driven him and while I don’t think the front is necessarily his strongest suit, I thought he was good enough off those (winning) races to be a good horse up there as well.”

And after a :29.4 third quarter breather Two Weeks Notice easily held off a bevy of late rushers, posting a 1:54.1 clocking, 1-1/2 lengths better than runner-up Armbro Balance. The pocket horse Birminghim held on for third.

“There was no problem when they came at him in the lane. He had plenty left,” said Magee. “Joe (trainer Anderson) has really done a great job of preparing the horse for this stake.”

Two Weeks Notice won the July 7 prep for the Dygert with a pocket trip and he also took last week’s Dygert Preview with a similar journey. Despite those victories, Two Weeks Notice ($6.00) was sent off as the 2-1 second choice. The 3-2 public favoritism went to the fourth place finisher Blue Mac Lad (Trond Smedshammer).

“When he came here I had heard he was a better horse with cover,” Magee said. “But Two Weeks Notice has gotten better and better and right now he may just be as good on the front end.”