Andy Gardner trainee takes Open Trot

Squee Hanover (Crazed) has been on top of his game lately and on Monday afternoon, the harness racing Andy Gardner trainee won the Open Trot for the second consecutive week and third time in his last four starts at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Squee Hanover went coast-to-coast to record his first two career wins in the local feature but this week he changed tactics. Billy Dobson was again in the sulky as Squee Hanover started from post five in the six-horse Open and Dobson settled in early this week with the up-and-coming trotter. The favorite, and last week’s Open winner, Dewey Arnold (Jimmy Devaux) got away last in Monday’s $15,000 feature and wound up first-over on millionaire veteran Cash Me Out (Phil Fluet). Dewey Arnold turned up the heat on the leader at three-quarters and dueled him into defeat around the final turn. Squee Hanover, who followed the cover of Dewey Arnold, tracked him down in the stretch before stopping the timer in 1:56.

Paying $13.60 to win in the mild upset, Squee Hanover led an exacta with Dewey Arnold second that returned $29.60.

Bridge Works (Jordan Derue), who has hit the board in nine out of the last eleven instalments of the Open Trot, finished third on Monday to round out a $97 triple.

The win for Squee Hanover was his ninth on the season for the Exceed Stables of Lamar, PA and trainer Andy Gardner.

Live racing continues on Tuesday at Saratoga and features a Pick Five carryover of $3,852.

The Pick Five begins in the matinee’s first race which is scheduled for Noon.

Mike Sardella