Swan Flyer, who was riding in the pocket behind his pace-setting stablemate, discovered an opening on the inside and surged through to win the $45,206 Open Trot at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday, May 7, to a 1:53.
Driver Brandon Bates was able to slip Swan Flyer into the pocket behind even-money choice after leaving post five. Oh Look Magic (driven by Devon Tharps) yielded in third place, setting a new record for the stands with a :26.2 burner as Sweet Mr. Pinetucky (Marvin Luna). Then Oh Look Magic took a timeout to go to a :55.2 half, and with Tony Hall, the Pioneer, looming first over on the rim, they accelerated for the backside. In 1:23.2, past three-quarters, Oh Look Magic held strong through the turn but faded on the spin home, giving Swan Flyer room to pass through in the lane. Then, in the straightaway, Swan Flyer overtook Pioneer As to win by a margin of 1-1/4 lengths, with Oh Look Magic finishing in fourth and Usosweet Blue Chip (Atlee Bender) closing for third.
Swan Flyer has already made $293,704 and won 16 races out of 58 starts. The five-year-old gelding by Swan For All is trained by Ron Burke for the owners, Yannick Gingras, Joseph Di Scala Jr., and FAC Racing LLC. He won by paying $17.40.
On Monday, May 13, at 3 p.m. (CDT), live racing returns to Oak Grove with the $100,000 USD Kentucky Sires Stakes finals for four-year-olds of every gait and sex.