Last week, Ohoka Chopper N came barrelling from off the speed to win, but this week, driver Atlee Bender worked out a pocket ride for the Erv Miller trainee and fired similar fervor down the stretch to win the $27,000 Open Pace on Sunday (June 11) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.
Bender secured a seat with Ohoka Chopper N behind pacesetter and even-money favourite This Kit Rocks (driven by Joey Putnam) passing a :27.3 first quarter. No competition came rolling to the half, so This Kit Rocks snagged a breather in a :56 clocking and initiated a sprint up the backside.
Heavy Pressure (Jamaal Denson) angled first over from fourth and made steady gains on This Kit Rocks, who remained under a firm grip by three-quarters in 1:23.3. This Kit Rocks then readied to engage in the stretch with pocket-pouncer Ohoka Chopper N, but the eight-year-old Christian Cullen gelding proved too strong and bounded past under minimal urging to win by a half-length in 1:51.4 over a track rated 'good.' Heavy Pressure held third, another 2-1/2 lengths behind, with Isitlikeitlooks (Kevin Wallis) fourth.
Ohoka Chopper N collected his 18th win from 83 starts and has now banked $147,221. Erv Miller trains and co-owns the gelding through his Ervin Miller Stable Inc. with Douglas Overhiser and Jamie Durnberger-Smith. He paid $4.94 to win.
The co-featured $26,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, scratched down to a three-horse affair, was taken by The Pantheist A (Atlee Bender) from worst to first in 1:52.2.
Bender sat last of the trio led by Rock It Out (Devon Tharps) through fractions of :26.2, :55.4 and 1:23.2 before launching her assault for the lead around the final turn. The Pantheist A coasted home under wraps to snap a winless streak lasting two years.
Doug Overhiser owns the seven-year-old Bettors Delight mare, who has now won 10 races from 62 starts and earned $209,965. She paid $4.02 to win.
A sweep of the featured events were just two of the four training victories on the day for Erv Miller. He also swept the late daily double with Wolftrax (1:52.4 winning mile; $6.98 to win) and Western Era (1:53.1; $4.20).
Racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday and features the first pari-mutuel races for two-year-olds in North America with their opening round of Kentucky Sires Stakes on the nine-race card. Four divisions total go postward and racing kicks off at 3 p.m. CDT.
(Oak Grove Racing)