Miami Valley: Swizzle Hanover stars in James K. Hackett Memorial final

The first of four $40,000 James K. Hackett Memorial championship races for Ohio-sired sophomore trotters and pacers was featured on Monday (April 12) at Miami Valley Raceway. Swizzle Hanover (Mike Wilder), a daughter of Uncle Peter, was impressive in winning in 1:55 4/5 over Ozma (Aaron Merriman) and Magic Credit Card (Brett Miller).

Despite a second-place finish in last week's elimination heat, the public sent Swizzle Hanover to post as the 3-5 favorite, and she looked the part throughout the championship tilt. Wilder patiently marched his filly forward before clearing to the front as the 28 2/5 first quarter beam was tripped. From there, he rated the tempo to a 57 3/5 half and 1:26 1/5 three-quarters while elimination winner Ozma sat nose-to-helmet on his back. Despite his attempt to rally Ozma in the stretch, Merriman couldn't get any closer as the winner crossed the finish line with a margin of just over a length on the runner-up.

As a 2-year-old, Swizzle Hanover won two races and earned $75,575 for her owner-trainer Randy Bendis and his partner Reed Broadway. To start her sophomore season, she has won three races out of four, plus the second in the Hackett elimination, and has pushed her earnings to $108,125.

In addition to Swizzle Hanover, Ozma, and Magic Credit Card, I Am Winning (Chris Page) also earned an automatic berth in the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitational at Miami Valley on Friday, April 23. The remainder of that field will be announced when it is determined.

--press release (Miami Valley)--