Muskateer Hanover returned from a two-week absence to reclaim his crown in the $41,667 Open Handicap Pace with a 1:51.1 victory on Tuesday, June 16 at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.

Leaving from post five, driver Geremy Bobbitt blasted Muskateer Hanover to the fore and took control through a :26.2 first quarter. The gelding faced no challengers passing the stands, allowing Bobbitt to hit the brakes to a :55.3 half before gathering speed for the backstretch. Admiral Hill (Atlee Bender), the even-money favourite, pushed up on the rim out of fourth with A Cool Moment (Joey Putnam) in tow, rolling to three-quarters in 1:23 before evening out coming for home. Muskateer Hanover accelerated and won comfortably by 1-3/4 lengths over Admiral Hill with A Cool Moment closing in third.

A six-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou-Marinade Hanover, Muskateer Hanover collected his eighth win from 13 starts this season and his 27th win from 94 starts in his career, raising his earnings to $889,842. Wayne Oke trains him for Calcutta Stable LLC. He paid $11.72 to win.

Jigger Dk, driven by Todd McCarthy, rocketed up the pylons from a pocket trip for a 1:53.2 win in the $41,667 Open Handicap Trot earlier in the card. McCarthy kept the Carter Pinske trainee in rhythm behind 8-5 favourite Little Expensive (Tyler Miller) through a clip of :26.3, :56.1 and 1:24.4 to ready him for the stretch drive. First-up Platinum As (Devon Tharps) levelled off while Little Expensive drifted out upon quickening for home, giving Jigger Dk the seam to spurt through and grab the win by three-quarters of a length. Little Expensive held second from Woman Of Passion (Marvin Luna), who finished third.

Mark Robinson and Makenna Pinske own Jigger Dk, a six-year-old gelding by Fabulous Wood-Little Jigger. He is now two-for-five on the season, his first in the U.S. since being imported from Europe. He has 14 wins and $246,709 in earnings from 30 lifetime outings. The win price was $5.36.

The Tuesday card opened with an aggressive steer from Joey Putnam to land Lyin Eyes back in the winner's circle in the top class for pacing gals with a 1:50.4 effort in the $45,833 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace. Lyin Eyes pushed through from between horses to grab the lead past a :26.1 first quarter, pocketing Dragons Lucky Lady (Atlee Bender) just past three-eighths. Bonitas Best Bet (Devon Tharps) then flushed outside from third moving towards a :54.4 half, supplying cover to Fearless Bettor (Marvin Luna). Lyin Eyes maintained her momentum to three-quarters in 1:22.4 while confronted by Bonitas Best Bet and soon repelled that rival rounding the last turn. In the stretch, Lyin Eyes sprinted away for a lifetime-best victory by 2-1/4 lengths with Flo Jo (Archie Buford) rallying off a pylon trip for second. Dragons Lucky Lady settled for third.

Joe Putnam trains Lyin Eyes, a five-year-old mare by Odds On Equuleus-Miswave Hanover, for owners J P Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. She improved to one-for-seven this season and took her 10th win from 56 starts in her career, increasing her bankroll to $620,060. She paid $5.44 to win.

Live racing at Oak Grove resumes on Monday with a card featuring four $150,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes finals for four-year-olds as well as the opening round of Kentucky Sire Stakes action for two-year-olds. Next week at Oak Grove also features an additional day of racing scheduled for Wednesday, June 24. First-race post time is 1:10 p.m. (CDT).

(Oak Grove)