A pair of Indiana sired trotters battled it out to the wire in the $8,000 Open Two Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Monticello Raceway. Cinnamon Stick and Onemoreswan scored the top two spots, respectively in the event.
Cinnamon Stick leads the way around the final turn Wednesday, Feb. 15 at Monticello Raceway with Onemoreswan at his back in the $8,000 Open Two.
Starting from post five, Cinnamon Stick and Gregory Merton used a little early speed and had some intentions of going to the lead, but when Onemoreswan and Jim Taggart Jr. took over early, they eased back and got in the three-hole around the first turn. Heading to the quarter in :28.4, Cinnamon Stick popped to the outside and made a bold move past the big six-year-old Swan for All gelding and took over.
Cinnamon Stick trotted past the half in :58.1 before Fair Glider and Brandon Parker moved to the outside to challenge before the three-quarters in 1:28.4. Onemoreswan stayed along the rail and had the option of dipping to the inside in the stretch, but the tiring Fair Glider allowed Onemoreswan to move to the outside and challenge. However, he could not make up any ground on Cinnamon Stick, who posted a two-length win in 1:59.1. Onemoreswan was a solid second over Fair Glider.
Cinnamon Stick paid $3.30 for the win. The eight-year-old Jailhouse Jesse gelding is trained by Greg Decker for owner Michael Mulligan. Steven Mast bred the gelding, who began his career under the direction of trainer-driver Doug Rideout in Indiana Sires Stakes action.
Cinnamon Stick now has 43 career wins in 175 starts with more than $250,000 in earnings. His quickest time was recorded at three at Saratoga Harness in 1:56.4. He has remained in New York since exiting Indiana after his three-year-old campaign and won 11 races last year. He is the final foal from the Cantab Hall brood mare Cantab Me.
In the very next race, another Indiana sired horse made it to the winner’s circle as ER Vegas and Frederick Bourgault were winners in a gate to wire effort of 1:57.3. The six-year-old Time to Roll gelding paid $12.60 for the win. He is now owned by Devin Gilbert and trained by Robert Lounsbury. The gelding carries the farm moniker ER for Eash Racing Stable, where he originated in Indiana.
The other Indiana winner on the day was Swan Fine Lady in the $8,000 Open One. The five-year-old Swan for All mare was bothered at the start from a breaking horse, but recovered to take over the top spot after the quarter in :29.0. From there, she held steady, posting a two and one-quarter length win in 1:58.3 with Ron Cushing at the controls. Swan Fine Lady paid $17.20 for the win. Heidi Gibbs trains the mare, who was bred by Kristin Wagler, and is now owned by Cushing, Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs.