Driver Devon Tharps gave Later Dudes an aggressive front-stepping steer while never giving an inch in a back-half sprint to hold on for victory at odds of 8-1 in the $54,795 Open Handicap Pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday, June 30.
Leaving from post five, Later Dudes secured the lead through a :26.4 first quarter over Dale Yeah (Marvin Luna) with Western Era (Atlee Bender) taking back to third and even-money favourite Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) settling in fourth after firing from the outermost post. Later Dudes snagged a breather to a :56.1 half, where Bender made the move to send Western Era first-up with Saulsbrook Victor on his back moving for the backstretch.
Western Era ranged forward to match strides with Later Dudes to three-quarters in 1:23.1 and stayed in lockstep with the leader through the final turn. Later Dudes turned into the stretch and regained control spinning for home while holding his ground in the final quarter-mile to keep Western Era at bay by a neck in 1:51. Dale Yeah emerged from the pocket trip and split rivals late but settled for third while Saulsbrook Victor finished evenly from a second-over trip for fourth.
An eight-year-old Sweet Lou-Lovely Assistant gelding trained by Ron Burke, Later Dudes won his fifth race from 19 starts this season and his 38th from 171 starts overall, pushing his lifetime earnings to $841,148. He competes for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Later Dudes paid $19.80 to win.
Jada Caroline and Atlee Bender took the top past the quarter and stayed game to post a 1:51.3 win earlier on the day in the $54,795 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Bender brushed Jada Caroline to the fore after a :26.2 first quarter cut by Yankee B Something (Marcus Miller). She kept the tempo hot to a :54.3 half and cruised up the backside while Lyin Eyes (Joey Putnam) marched uncovered from last to challenge the leader for the front. Lyin Eyes loomed into contention with Jada Caroline through three-quarters in 1:22.4 but lost ground off the final turn while Jada Caroline held firm on the helm to win by three-quarter lengths at the beam. Yankee B Something swung off a pocket ride to take second from Lyin Eyes in third while JKs Shining Star (Marvin Luna) took fourth.
Erv Miller trains Jada Caroline, a four-year-old mare by Tellitlikeitis out of Ideal Plan, for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Louis Willinger and Never 2 Late Stable. She won her third race from seven starts this season and her ninth race from 37 starts in her career, good for $507,093 in earnings. She returned $5.10 to win.
Erv Miller, the reigning leading trainer at Oak Grove, recorded a hat trick on the Monday card. Aside from his victory with Jada Caroline, he found the winner's circle in the first race on the day with Fox Valley Jasmine (Marcus Miller, 1:53 winning mile; $6.72 to win) and won in the penultimate race on the card in a 13-length romp with Number Cruncher (Marcus Miller, 1:50.2; $2.84).
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday, July 1 with a 14-race card headlined by the Open Trot in race two. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove)