ABC Mercedes cruised home a winner in his first start of 2010 in the co-featured $23,000 Invitational Trot Saturday, April 10 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

. Accompanied by trainer-driver Joe “True Blue” Putnam, the Indiana-standout trotted home in a time of 1:55.4.

Starting from the second tier Post 10, Putnam had no choice but to follow the field out from behind the Todd Nixon starting gate. Speed N The Tunnel and Sam Widger left alertly on the inside to reach the quarter mile marker in :27.4. However, their lead was short lived as Lemoyne “Mooney” Svendsen had Claudius Augustus out and moving to the lead on the backstretch, posting the half-mile time in :57.3.

At this point, ABC Mercedes was out and ready to advance forward, flushing Joey Three Chins and Dan Shetler out, creating a perfect second-over journey to the stretch. In the stretch, it took Putnam only a few taps to get ABC Mercedes into top gear and trot home in :27.3 to earn the victory, one-half length over Speed N The Tunnel. Claudius Augustus, the Invitational winner the past two weeks, finished third.

“I was a little leery starting on the back tier, but we ended up with good cover and he trotted a good mile,” said Putnam, who has had ABC Mercedes his entire career. “He’s been training back really well, and I thought he’d race well. But, you always figure a horse needs a start or two before he’s really ready.”

ABC Mercedes is owned by Larry Miller of Springport, Indiana. The five-year-old son of ABC Garland is closing in on $500,000 in career earnings. With 29 wins in 42 career starts, ABC Mercedes has been the top trotter in his class the past two seasons in the state of Indiana.

“This horse [ABC Mercedes] wintered well and has been sharp all spring,” said Putnam. “He likes to do his work and he’s got a great attitude. He qualified really well, too, so we are really pleased with how he’s returned to the track this year.”

Putnam, who is part of the Fab Five at Hoosier Park, is among the track’s top five drivers all-time with 558 career wins. The native of Michigan relocated to Indiana shortly after the track opened in the mid 1990s. Putnam has right at 2,800 career wins as a driver and more than $13 million in purse earnings during his career. In addition to his driving skills, Putnam has fared well in the training ranks. He is sixth on the list of all-time leading trainers at Hoosier Park with 212 career wins.

Robin I Scoot Wins Invitational Pace

It was an evening of returning Indiana champions on the track as Robin I Scoot coasted home to victory in the co-featured $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, April 10 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Robin I Scoot, 2008 Indiana Horse of the Year, is back better than ever, winning his first race of 2010.

Starting from Post 8 in the 10-horse lineup, driver Trace Tetrick hustled Robin I Scoot out of the gate quickly in search of the top spot. Royalton Star and Andy Shetler beat them to the punch and had the top spot under his command through the quarter mile marker in :26.4. However, Tetrick was not content to sit and wait. He moved Robin I Scoot to the outside and made a bold rush to the lead, securing the top spot by the halfway marker in :55.4.

Robin I Scoot continued to show strong speed through the turn, placing more than three lengths between himself and the remainder of the field when he passed the three-quarter mile marker in a time of 1:23.1. He continued to keep his stride lively in the lane.

“After he [Robin I Scoot] got on top, I chased him through the turn,” said Tetrick. “I was hoping to slingshot off the last turn and get a jump on the field. He opened up like the Red Sea tonight.”

Robin I Scoot fended off the late attackers with success, posting the mile in a time of 1:51.1. Royalton Star was one length back in second. Rocket Fuel and Dan Shetler Jr. moved up for third.

“Last week, he got parked, so I thought he’d be good tonight,” said trainer Dan Perdue. “He’s older now and he’s really filled out this year. I had to let his hopples out two inches, but other than that, we haven’t made any changes at all.”

Robin I Scoot is owned by Shady Lane Meadows of Grabill, Indiana. The five-year-old son of I Scoot Hanover now has 27 wins in 72 starts for Perdue, who has conditioned the gelding through his entire career at the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville, Ohio. Robin I Scoot posted his best career time of 1:49.3 at Hoosier Park last season and is now over the $500,000 mark for career earnings.

“After the American National last November, we turned him out for some rest,” said Perdue. “We brought him back in the last of December and he’s been in training ever since.”

(Hoosier Park)