Whitton, Kleinhans take USHDC Trots

Oak Grove, KY…April 16, 2024…Harness racing’s Oak Grove Racing and Gaming was host to a pair of United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) events on Monday, April 15, with Cassidy Whitton and Peter Kleinhans recording wins in their respective events.

Cassidy Whitton kicked off the festivities by scoring a near gate-to-wire win with the seven-year-old mare She’s A Fireball (Western Maverick), stopping the clock in 1:54.4.

It took a brave :29 finale to hold Lou’s Delight, handled by Tony Dinges, safe at the wire by a neck for second place while the 9 to 10 favorite, Topville Rocknluck, finished third for Tim Wilson, Jr. after a mild challenge turning for home.

Mach Diesel, driven by Jill Brown, finished fourth, less than two lengths away while Stick With Cramer, 10 lengths out of it early on, closed fastest of all—:27.4—to pick up the nickel for Mike Riley.

It was, pretty much, “cut and dry” after the first few strides with the winner carving out panels of :28 in securing the early lead and a well rated :58 with only one minor threat developing three lengths away.

A :27.4 third panel thwarted any serious threats and the :29 finale on home sealed the deal with the win being number four in just nine starts, good for $18,220 in bounty so far this semester and $262,251 lifetime.

Whitton also trains the mare for owners Pat Melloy, Jr. and Lisa Gosling with winning pari-mutuel ticket holders getting a $16.94 dividend for their $2 investment.

Cassidy Witton now has 93 career driving wins and 119 training successes and a win percentage of over 20%.

The veteran amateur driver Peter Kleinhans guided the six-year-old gelding Snap Call (Shadow Play) to his third win in 12 starts this year, scoring handily by 8 1/4 lengths in 1:55.1, highlighted by a :28,2 sprint home off fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4.

Left in the winner’s wake was Rockin M, handled by Jacob Stillwell, who rallied from dead-last early to finish second.

Southwind Molly, piloted by Carson Conrad, was next followed by Takemetothelmt, with Dein Spriggs handling the lines, and Indiana Cam, driven by Scott Mc Quinn, next after challenging halfway through the mile.

Snap Call was alert leaving form his inside post but met company from Doc’s Papparazzi during the opening quarter.

With Kleinhans on a frontend mission with Snap Call, Doc’s Papparazzi was left hung out to dry like wet laundry with only a minimal challenge from the field after that.

Snap Call is just “one win away” from reaching $100,000 in career earnings, now standing at $97,991.

Michael Meza trains Snap Call for owner Ashlee Sluggett and returned $11.52 for the win ducat.

The 24-year-old Meza, in his second year as a trainer, has complied an impressive 35 wins in just 136 starts.

USHDC has donated over $300,000 to worthy charitable causes since its inception with a focus on retired horse aftercare, training for “second” vocations as therapeutic horses, pleasure horses and show horses. Their donations have also made dreams come true for children through donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for USHDC