A pair of longshots fired to the lead in the $45,833 Opens at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday, May 19, and both lasted to the finish, with Muskateer Hanover landing a 16-1 upset in the Open Handicap Pace and Scorecard Dandy nailing a 24-1 upset in the Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace.
In the Open, Muskateer Hanover, driven by Tony Hall, grabbed the point and powered home to a 1:49.2 victory.
Hall worked his charge to the fore through a :25.4 first quarter and snagged a breather to a :54.4 half while Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) got underway first over with 6-5 favourite Tip Top Cat (Trace Tetrick) on his back. Muskateer Hanover coasted up the backstretch to clock past three-quarters in 1:22 and soon inched away from the competition to register a 2-1/4-length win. Tip Top Cat rallied off cover for second while Saulsbrook Victor settled for third and Later Dudes (Jeremy Indof) saved ground in fourth.
A five-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou out of Marinade Hanover, Muskateer Hanover (pictured above) won his 15th race from 59 starts and has now earned $480,400. Wayne Oke trains the gelding for owners Mulligan Stables and Calcutta Stable. Muskateer Hanover paid $35.92 to win.
Scorecard Dandy, driven by Wyatt Avenatti, clung to the lead for her victory in the $45,833 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace while stopping the clock in 1:51.3.
Avenatti hustled Scorecard Dandy forward through a :25.2 first quarter and backed the tempo into a :54.3 half, which prompted Yankee B Something (Tony Hall) to launch into a first-over attack. Yankee B Something clawed to equal terms with Scorecard Dandy marching to three-quarters in 1:22.3 and stayed locked in battle all through the turn while Dandys Mercy (Marcus Miller) loomed three-wide from her second-over perch. An onslaught of pursuers closed in on Scorecard Dandy spinning for home, but Avenatti kept his charge brave and strong in a contested stretch drive to hold on and win by a head over Yankee B Something with Dandys Mercy settling for third. Pressure Cooker (Marvin Luna) gave pursuit from a pocket trip for fourth.
Winning her 29th race from 114 starts, Scorecard Dandy has now earned $504,102. John Filomeno trains the seven-year-old mare by Sportsmaster out of Mahna Mahna for owners Green Acres and Mike Klimas. Scorecard Dandy paid $50.38 to win.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday, May 20, with a 13-race card headlined by the $33,000 USD Open Trot in Race 9. Tuesday's card also features a carryover in the $1 Pick 4, which starts in Race 9, worth $797.43 USD. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove)