Handle record broken at Oak Grove

OAK GROVE, Ky. — Joey Putnam took the initiative with 7-2 third choice Lyin’ Eyes (Odds On Equuleus) and rated a powerful mile to hold on for the 1:53.3 harness racing victory in the $33,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace on what became a record-breaking day at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (May 5).

Leaving from post 3, Putnam put Lyin’ Eyes into play after back-to-back off the speed efforts and grabbed the lead from 3-2 chalk Kobe’s Gigi (driven by Marvin Luna) moving past a :27.1 first quarter. Putnam then rationed speed to a :57.1 half and only slightly accelerated up the backside when JK’s Shining Star (Randy Crisler) came marching first over. Lyin’ Eyes held a snug lead to three-quarters in 1:25.3, and Putnam pushed the button at the top of the stretch to scoot away to a near two-length cushion. Dandy’s Mercy (Marcus Miller) rallied from third over down the center of the track in an attempt to reel in the leader, but Lyin’ Eyes held firm to the line by a half length. Kobe’s Gigi settled for third and Fearless Bettor (Peter Wrenn) came from second over for fourth.

LYIN’ EYES REPLAY

A 4-year-old mare by Odds On Equuleus, Lyin’ Eyes won her eighth race from 29 starts and has now earned $367,991 for owners J. P. Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. She paid $9.24 to win.

Monday’s card also featured a $22,000 mini-series final for $12,000 claimers won by 11-1 shot Normandy Beach, who gave trainer Trey Brinson a hat trick on an afternoon celebrating his daughter’s birthday. Normandy Beach led his competition pillar to post from the pylon post to register a 1:54.3 upset over Sonic Star (Trace Tetrick) and America’s Fleet (Marvin Luna). Brinson trains the 11-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere for owner Tony Troy, and he paid $25.26 to win. Brinson also won on the day with Capt Karma (Pat Curtin, 1:54.3; $4.50) and later with Talk Racy To Me (Devon Tharps, 1:53.1; $23.94).

Normandy Beach’s upset came in the middle of a monumental Pick 4 sequence at Oak Grove, which featured a $7,746.19 carryover that — with a $25,000 guaranteed pool — drew $43,637 in new money. The sequence opened with a pair of longshots, starting with Talk Racy To Me and then with The Hulkster (Devon Tharps; $18.34), before wrapping with favorite Western Era (Atlee Bender; $5.22) to pay $23,528.72 on a $1 ticket.

The large Pick 4 pool helped bolster Oak Grove to record-breaking numbers for the third straight year on this post Kentucky Derby Monday. Monday’s 13-race card handled a total $582,666.19, up from the previous record set on May 6 last year of $522,939.11. Oak Grove wishes to thank all the bettors for tuning in and hopping into the action.

Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (May 6) with a 13-race card headlined by a $33,000 Open Trot in Race 9. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:45 p.m. (CDT). For more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com.

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

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity