Kleinhans continues to dominate USH Driving Club

Oak Grove, Kentucky…May 28, 2024…The United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) complimented Oak Grove Racing and Gaming’s stakes laden program on Monday (May 27) and the classy 12-year-old gelding Sprinter N (Mach Three) sprinted home a handy winner for Peter Kleinhans, stopping the timer in 1:55.4.

The win stretched two notable streaks on Monday, the first being Sprinter N’s third straight win since his arrival at Oak Grove earlier this month with the second streak belonging to amateur driver Peter Kleinhans, who has won his last trio of starts in USHDC competition, after guiding Paperback Thriller and Jim Strikesitrich to the winner’s circle the previous two weeks.

Messi N, driven by Donricus Blackmon, rallied bravely from eighth halfway through the mile to finish second while the fastest closing Captain Mckee, handled by Jafari Frazier, finished third.

M G Kid, with Jim Brinson in the bike, used a ground saving journey to finish fourth with She’s A Fireball picking up the nickel for Cassidy Whitton.

As the wings folded, M G Kid did leave with alacrity from the inside post but was quickly joined by Sprinter N with these two slugging it out until Sprinter N took charge a stride or two prior to the :27.3 opener.

Once on top, Kleinhans gave his charge a :29.3 second quarter breaker, reaching the half in :57.1 with Pictonian Thunder, piloted by Carson Conrad, on the prowl and putting pressure on the leader past the third station in 1:26.3.

Turning for home, Sprinter N drew clear and was never threatened thereafter, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

Sprinter N, who began his career “down under,” and won 17 times over three seasons in “Kiwi” land, is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the U.S. with 38 wins since his arrival here in 2018 to go along with a mark of 1:48.3 accomplished six seasons ago.

This win vaulted Sprinter N’s lifetime bounty over the $600,000 plateau—now standing at $602,277 on the strength of his 5-1-3 scorecard in 15 starts this year, good for $41,870.

Trained by Randy Crisler for owner Theri Hensley, the winner was officially off at 77 cents to the dollar (penny breakage in Kentucky) and paid $3.54 to his multitude of faithful.

Kleinhans, by the way, now has 71 lifetime successes in the bike with this season being his best in terms of purses earned (for charitable distribution) and UDRS—his batting average now a lofty .357.

The USHDC has contributed over $320,000 to worthy charitable causes since its inception due to the generosity of its members to donate all driving earnings from amateur events for causes ranging from equine aftercare and training for horses for second careers in therapeutics, show horses or riding horses, among others.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by John Berry, for USHDC