More aggressive tactics by Atlee Bender for Im Sir Blake A paid off as the Erv Miller trainee coasted to a 1:51.2 victory in the $27,000 co-featured Open Pace on Sunday afternoon (June 18) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.
Bender sent Im Sir Blake A from post three alongside This Kit Rocks (Joey Putnam), who took over the lead past a :27.4 first quarter. This Kit Rocks then hit the brakes past the stands, prompting Bender to circle Im Sir Blake A back to the top before a :56.2 half. From there, the Erv Miller pupil rolled while stablemate Ohoka Chopper N (John MacDonald) began a first-over grind from last to pull within a length of the leader to three-quarters in 1:24.3. Im Sir Blake A remained loaded for the final-quarter sprint and charged home to win under a Bender deathgrip by three-quarter lengths over This Kit Rocks. Ohoka Chopper N held third from Heavy Pressure in fourth.
Im Sir Blake A bagged his 29th win from 94 tries and has now earned $395,737. Douglas Overhiser owns the eight-year-old gelding by Alta Christiano N who paid $4.92 to win.
Miller and Bender then teamed to take the $27,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace with The Pantheist A, who repeated at the top class for debutantes with a 1:50.4 effort. The seven-year-old Bettors Delight mare worked a pocket ride behind Rockin Nola (Joey Putnam) through a solid clip of :26, :54.4 and 1:22.1 before pouncing. Once she vacated the pocket, The Pantheist A lifted flight and finish under a firm hand by 1-1/2 lengths over Rockin Nola. Rose Run Vantage (John MacDonald) finished third and Yankee B Something (Randy Crisler) took fourth.
Douglas Overhiser owns The Pantheist A, a now 11-time winner from 63 starts with $223,465 earned. She paid $6.08 to win.
Redemption Ranch is the latest beneficiary of the United States Harness Drivers Club (formerly the Florida Amateur Driving Club). The USHDC, with over $300,000 in donations since its inception, is on a roll these days having made six contributions during the Oak Grove meeting.
A 501-C3 organization, the “Ranch” provides a safe, fun, encouraging and peaceful environment for those going through difficult journeys in life. Equine assisted learning and horsemanship aids those in need by building confidence, communication skills and healthy attitudes and coping skills.
Of course, the USHDC has many heroic members but, on Sunday, Tony Dinges and Zachery Highers were the stars under the warm Bluegrass skies, winning their respective events in amateur competition.
Dinges, who has now won seven events during the Oak Grove meet to lead all amateur drivers, scored a come-from-behind 1:54.4 win with the nine-year-old Reggie Raider. The pair hit the wire 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Feelin Lika Winner, who was disqualified and placed seventh for interference, allowing Pacific Stride, handled by Zachery Highers, to move up a notch. Swiss Bank Hanover, driven by Dein Spriggs, elevated to third.
In a post-race interview, Dinges, once again, shed the spotlight and focused on the “Ranch” by saying, “Yes, the strategy changed from last week’s win on the engine, but the real winner was the Redemption Ranch and what they do for so many in need. It’s all about them today…it’s all about them!”
Also trained by Dinges for owner Dawnelle Mock, Reggie Raider won for the fourth time this semester to send his seasonal bounty to $24,613 and $218,847 lifetime. The winner went off at 78 cents to the dollar and returned $3.56 to his multitude of faithful.
The other USHDC event went to Mels Vicki Lou, driven by Zachery Highers for trainer Joey Putnam.
Surviving an early skirmish through an opening panel of :26.4, this five-year-old mare led at every pole thereafter, click off panels of :56.4 and 1:25.2 before a :28.3 finale sealed the deal in a 1:54 win over Gunrneedabgrboat, with Carson Conrad in the bike. Hoosier Shooter, driven by Jafari Frazier, was next.
For the 31-year-old Highers, who has been in the sulky only sparingly over the years, it was his first win in almost five years and third lifetime.
Owned by J P Racing along with Michael Lee, Mels Vicki Lou was highly regarded by the Oak Grove masses and paid $3.90 to win. She vaulted her seasonal bounty to $23,145 and career earnings to $122,498.
Racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday with a nine-race card headlined by a $28,000 Open Trot, slated as Race 4, along with an $18,000 Open 2 Trot in Race 1. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 3 p.m. CDT.
(Oak Grove Racing)