ABC Mercedes visited Hoosier Park's winner's circle for the fourth time this year as he captured the featured $24,000 Open Trot at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday
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It was a cavalry charge from the moment the gate opened as the race saw much movement through the opening splits. Rompaway Beau and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. left alertly from post seven only to yield the lead to Sam Widger and Proud Yankee at the first quarter mark in :27.4. Opting out of a position along the rail, ABC Mercedes and Joe Putnam pressed to the front to find the half-mile marker in :58.4.
Driver Trace Tetrick was the first to pull the trigger as he had Gale Warning first over to try their hand at the easy fractions. Reaching the leader's wheel around the final turn, Gale Warning and Tetrick sat parked through a leisurely three-quarter split of 1:29. ABC Mercedes was waiting to be called on by Putnam and began to find his best strides late in the lane as he powered home in :26.4. Winning by three parts of a length, the seven-year-old gelding stopped the clock in 1:55.4 over Proud Yankee. Rompaway Beau and Macomber held on to finish third. ABC Mercedes returned $3.60 to his backers.
The standout Indiana sired gelding is trained and driven by Putnam and owned by Larry Miller. The victory was the 53rd for ABC Mercedes in 87 career starts. With over $920,000 bankrolled, the ABC Garland gelding continues to inch toward the $1 million mark.
(Hoosier Park)