Driver Marvin Luna sent 5-2 second choice Alwaystellthetruth to the point and stayed strong to the end of a 1:52.2 mile to win in the $26,027 featured pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Wednesday, June 25.
Leaving from the pylon post, Luna settled in third with Alwaystellthetruth through a :27.2 first quarter and soon sent his charge forward to grab the front from even-money favourite Millwood Bliss N (Peter Wrenn) when passing the grandstands for the first time.
Alwaystellthetruth cleared to command heading to a :56.2 half and maintained his speed up the backstretch to clock three-quarters in 1:24.2 while bearing first-over pressure from I Got Six Shots (Devon Tharps) nearing the final turn. Luna cut the corner for home and kept Millwood Bliss N locked in the pocket in the lane to claim victory by 1-1/4 lengths while I Got Six Shots finished evenly in third.
Walter Haynes Jr. trains Alwaystellthetruth, an eight-year-old gelding by Tellitlikeitis, for owners Jeff Fought Racing and Brian Carsey. The gelding won his second race from 16 starts this season and his 22nd from 147 overall, good for $389,193 in earnings. He paid $7.14 to win.
Wednesday's card also featured a $1,769.92 carryover in the Pick 5, which drew $5,291.30 in new money. The sequence saw winners at odds of 9/2, 7/2, 3/5, 2-1, and 11-1, and paid $1,565.58 on a 20-cent ticket.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Monday, June 30. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove)