Double A Goldrush (Casey Leonard) was the upset winner in Monday’s Open Trot at Hawthorne. (Four Footed Fotos) 

 By Mike Paradise for the IHHA 

 Double A Goldrush, capably handled by Casey Leonard, came up with a no-doubt-about-it victory in Hawthorne’s Open Trot to end Bluebird Deacon’s recent domination of the regular Monday $11,100 feature.

 Bluebird Deacon won the previous two Hawthorne Open trots in come from behind fashion, but the 6-5 public’s choice was a non-factor Monday evening.

 Leonard sent the 6-1 longshot Double A Goldrush out from the seven-slot in the eight-horse field and the 10-year-old trotter out-sprinted Perlucky for control of the race while driver Atlee Bender, as expected, took the 6-5 favorite Bluebird Deacon back.

 Casey no doubt was hoping to get away with a one-quarter breather with his horse after a 28.3 first panel. He got that, and surprisingly another soft quarter when he had no challengers.

 Double A Goldrush ($15.60) trotted a 29.4 second quarter and coasted to a 29.3 third panel. It wasn’t until the field went into the last turn before the third-place horse Loulita (Mike Oosting) became the first trotter to come after the leader. Meanwhile Bluebird Deacon was eighth, almost nine lengths behind at the top of the lane with Double A Goldrush having plenty left.

 The Terry Leonard trainee trotted a 28 flat last quarter to pull away to a one and one-half length win over Perlucky, who held off a fast-closing Dash Of Luck (Brandon Bates) for third. Bluebird Deacon ended up sixth, beaten more than seven lengths.

 Double A Goldrush is owned by Michael and Laura Lee of Bridgeview, Illinois, along with Harvard, Illinois’ Terry Leonard.

 Pleasant Surprise: Sunday’s Hawthrone mutuel handle was surprisingly the meet’s best when $1,162,725 was wagered. The seven-figure handle dwarfed Monday’s card of just over $400.000.

  A reminder that the first post Sunday’s upcoming Hawthorne program has been moved up to 1 pm so it doesn’t go against the Super Bowl being played in the evening.