Mares beats the boys in Open Trot

Swan Fine Lady (Swan For All) was able to show her heels to her harness racing male rivals in capturing the $8,000 Open Trot at Monticello Raceway Wednesday (Feb. 15).

With a drop of class from racing at Yonkers and switching to Monticello had no effect on the mare, who went off at odds of 7-1. Driven by Ron Cushing, Swan Fine Lady was able to work her way to the lead by the opening quarter mile in :29.

After taking control from Hot Summer Knight (Mike Merton), Swan Fine Lady cut the mile to the half in :58. That flushed P C Foreign Affair (Jim Devaux) from third place to first-over with race favorite Chip Chip Conway (Jim Taggart, Jr.) grabbing the second-over cover.

By the three-quarters in 1:28, Swan Fine Lady was holding the field at bay as P C Foreign Affair was stuck first-over. Then in the stretch it was no contest as Swan Fine Lady and Cushing cruised to a two and one-quarter length triumph in 1:58.3. Just Maybe The One (Kyle Dibenedetto) closed well to be second with Chip Chip Conway third.

SWAN FINE LADY REPLAY

It was the second win in five starts this year for Swan Fine Lady. She is trained by Heidi Gibbs for co-owners Ron Cushing, Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs. She paid $17.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink