Sustaining a first-over push for practically the whole mile, Marloe Hanover then lasted once powering to the lead to grab the win in the $82,192 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (July 15). 

Hungry For Love (driven by Devon Tharps) fired off the wings of the gate to grab the lead through a :25.2 first quarter with Rock It Out (Andy Miller) settling into the pocket spot. Ainthesamewithoutu (Marvin Luna) landed into third while Marloe Hanover (Todd McCarthy) floated forward into fourth and took a brief tuck at the pylons before moving back outside to a :54.2 half. 

Once committed on the rim, Marloe Hanover gained methodically as Hungry For Love sped up the backside to click past three-quarters in 1:21.1. But the :26.4 backside sprint took a toll on Hungry For Love and she began wavering as Marloe Hanover continued to push on the outside through the final turn. Marloe Hanover powered to the lead into the stretch and then withstood a late charge from Ainthesamewithoutu, who pulled off the pylons around the final turn and rallied home to take second by three-quarter lengths. Tarapasta (Lewayne Miller) converted a ground-saving trip to take third and Rock It Out held fourth. Final time of the mile read 1:50.

A seven-year-old mare by Captaintreacherous, Marloe Hanover has now won 45 times from 166 starts and earned $1,330,484. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains her for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. She paid $14.12 to win. 

Live racing at Oak Grove will conclude for the 2024 season on Tuesday (July 16) with a 12-race card starting at 3 p.m. (CDT). Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website.

As the Oak Grove Racing and Gaming harness racing season races toward the finish line on Tuesday, the Oak Grove Racing team is fortunate to have quite a “one-two” punch in the form of Kevin Mack and Cara Collins.

Their efforts allowed the United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) to distribute record contributions to charitable causes during the meeting with the Christian County Cattleman Association the latest to receive a $2,000 USD contribution on Sunday, July 14.

As part of the Chamber of Commerce, the Association is part of a mission to provide service and leadership resulting in a prosperous economy for all County citizens built on. Leadership, teamwork and the recognition of excellence celebrating individual and team achievements in the County.

A pair of $27,397 USHDC events were carded—one each on Sunday and Monday—with Captain Mckee (Captaintreachwerous) winning on Sunday for Jafari Frazier and Seth Hanover, with John Mungillo handling the lines, scoring on the Monday card.

Captain Mckee made a huge double bubble binge approaching the three-quarter mile mark, took charge turning for home and held off the determined late sprint of Rockin Ella Mae, driven by Tyler Maxwell, to score by a half length in 1:54.4.

Shakeanera, forced to pace a mile (and 25 yards) outside looking in, was a solid third for Shae Vandervort while She’s A Fireball was fourth for Cassidy Whitton. Ayr Pioneer GB picked up the nickel for Dein Spriggs.

Trained by John Hughes, who co-owns with Delbert Roberts, Captain Mckee won for the third time this year in 14 starts, sending his 2024 bankroll to $29,334. His lifetime total now stands at $129,928 with the winner rewarding his faithful with a $15.10 mutuel.

Seth Hanover’s win on Monday was quite a “bit” easier for John Mungillo as this six-year-old gelded son of Artspeak got superior handling from Mungillo, carving up early panels of :27.2 and :57.4 before a :56.2 final half mile sealed the deal by 1-1/2 lengths over the 21-1 long-shot, Lanesville Logic GB, teamed with Dein Spriggs—that mile in 1:56.1.

Unhynged Speed closed well for Peter Kleinhans to finish on the board third while Spartacus Bluechip next for Michael Riley. Mach Diesel paced an “even-steven” mile to pick up the final check.

Trained by Don Campbell for owner Nancy Cannon, Seth Hanover, using the inside post to perfection, paid $4.30 to his multitude of faithful.

Seth Hanover now sports a 2-2-5 scorecard in 19 starts, good for $64,091 this semester and $435,380 lifetime.

For Mungillo, by the way, who is known for his training prowess with 1,177 wins “back of the scenes,” this was his first win in the bike since May 4, 2019 at Pompano Park with Kegler Hanover in their amateur event.

The USHDC now haas contributions totaling over $330,000 since their inception, made possible by the generosity of the members donating all driving earnings in ISHDC event to charity.

(With files from Oak Grove Racing and USHDC)