Bluebird Deacon (No.5, Kyle Wilfong) overtook his foes in the late going in Monday’s featured Open Trot at Hawthorne. (Four Footed Fotos) 



By Mike Paradise for the IHHA 

  A patience drive from Kyle Wilfong paid off with a come-from-behind victory for Bluebird Deacon in Monday’s featured $11,100 Open Trot at Hawthorne.

 The now 7-year-old Swan For Swan gelding looked to be out of it when the seven-horse field turned for home but the Erv Miller trained trotter came from sixth, some six lengths off the lead, to uncock a 26.2 final quarter and post a three-quarter length victory over Double A Goldrush (Casey Leonard) at the end of a 1:56.1 mile.

  Rockyroad Aldo (Bobby Smolin) got his nose in front of Annas Lucky Star (Mike Oosting) to be third.

 Just as he did in the last two Hawthorne trot Opens, Rockyroad Aldo was the fastest from the gate, taking command going to the first turn. Perlucky (Brandon Bates), looking for his third consecutive front-end Open triumph, left from the assigned outside six-post but couldn’t clear Rockyroad Aldo until part way down the backstretch.

 After a 28.3 first panel, Bates was able to slow things down with 30.3 and 30.1 middle quarters while Bluebird Deacon ($4.80) trailed all but the earlier breaking pacer Maple Grove Mangin. field.

 Wilfong had Bluebird Deacon on the move going into last turn but was three-deep, still in sixth with two horses in front of him and three more to his inside, when the Indiana bred found another gear and swept past in his first start of the new year for owner Hanna Miller Bender of Noblesville, Indiana.