Bringing back a champion can have its challenges. Expectations are high and age sometimes slows the stride of a great racehorse. However, ABC Mercedes proved that he has overcome the odds, winning the $24,000 Invitational Trot Wednesday, May 18 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

The graceful performance by ABC Mercedes Wednesday was not a smooth journey. After a five-month layoff, ABC Mercedes returned to the track for his 2011 debut, only to turn in a disappointing eighth-place finish. Trainer-driver Joe Putnam immediately detected that a major problem had occurred during the race.

“He (ABC Mercedes) had an atrial fibrillation,” said Putnam. “We took him in immediately to the vet clinic and he reconverted on his own in the first 48 hours after the race. They continued to check him out and he had returned to normal.”

ABC Mercedes slowly came back into training and was appearing to be back to his old self. However, Putnam didn’t really know what to expect until he demolished his opponents in a recent qualifier, winning by nearly 20 lengths. Outward appearances seemed to point to the old ABC Mercedes.

Guided by Putnam, ABC Mercedes had his first test back on the track Wednesday, May 18. The six-year-old son of ABC Garland trotted out well from the centre of the pack and moved to the lead just past the quarter mile marker in :27.4. That was the last time any other horse’s name would be called as the leader. The two-time Indiana Trotter of the Year continued on through fractions of :58 and 1:27 before finding even a faster stride in the stretch, pulling away from the field for a win in a time of 1:55.2. Hardwood Chips and Trace Tetrick finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second over Mo Muscles and Dan Shetler for third.

Owned by Larry Miller of Springport, Indiana, ABC Mercedes earned his 41st career win and is closing in on $700,000 in career earnings. His quickest mile to date continues to be his 1:53.1 win at the Red Mile as a three-year-old for Putnam, who has trained the horse his entire career.

“I was cautiously optimistic coming into tonight,” said Putnam of ABC Mercedes. “He has been training well and we were pretty confident he was back to normal. I thought he’d race well tonight because he qualified well, but the other horses in this race are tighter so I didn’t know how well he’d finish. He showed us tonight he’s back to his old self.”

ABC Mercedes surprised bettors, paying $10.40, $6.20, and $4.60 across the board. He is eligible for the upcoming Indiana Sires Stakes for older trotting horses and geldings, which will conclude on the final night of racing Saturday, July 16 with a $100,000 final. The race will be part of a special Hoosier Champions Night with purses in excess of $1 million. The evening will also mark the second annual national Back to the Track promotion, which will add additional promotions and activities to the evening.

(Hoosier Park)