It’s A Herbie romps in Open Trot

OAK GROVE, KY — Favorite It’s A Herbie (Here Comes Herbie) catapulted off cover to fulfill a 7-5 harness racing obligation and win in the $28,000 Open Trot at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday afternoon (June 19).

Trainer-driver Verlin Yoder took the 7-year-old gelding off the speed again to race fifth of the sextet while Perlucky (driven by John MacDonald) cleared to the lead past a :27 first quarter. He kept Stride The Hill (Kevin Wallis) in the pocket as he powered to the half in :55.4 and tried to grab a reprieve up the backside.

As the tempo slowed, Saint Antoine (Joey Putnam) blitzed first-over with It’s A Herbie in tow and last week’s Open winner Heath Bar (Matt Krueger) perched third over. Perlucky clicked by three-quarters in 1:25 but caved to the mounting pressure circling the final turn. Saint Antoine stayed alongside, but Yoder launched It’s A Herbie three wide and in a matter of strides burst clear of his competition. Whip stowed away, It’s A Herbie bounded to a six-length victory in 1:54.1 with Heath Bar circling to take second. Bluebird Deacon (Atlee Bender) closed from last for third and Saint Antoine took fourth.

Winning for the 23rd time in 75 starts, It’s A Herbie has now banked $628,837. Verlin Yoder owns the gelding who paid $4.90 to win.

Monday’s card kicked off with the co-featured $18,000 Open 2 Trot, won coast to coast by DG’s Caviar (Prime Time Caviar) in 1:55.4. Driver Joey Putnam put the Joe Putnam pupil on the point past a :28 first quarter and carved a sensible clip under minimal pressure to a :57.4 half and three-quarters in 1:27.

Big Christian (Atlee Bender), the 1-2 favorite, came charging first over around the final turn but did not have enough racetrack remaining to collar DG’s Caviar, who kept a quarter length in front at the beam. Pilgrims Image (Matt Krueger) recovered from a break at the start to finish third, beaten 10 lengths, with Brookview Bluto (Kevin Wallis) fourth.

Lavern Yoder owns DG’s Caviar, a 7-year-old stallion. He won his 19th race from 56 starts — and his first race from five outings over the last two years — and has now earned $166,450. He paid $18.36 to win.

Racing resumes at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 20) with a jam-packed day of racing. Three non-betting races go to post at 2 p.m. CDT (3 p.m. EDT) with a pari-mutuel card of 14 races scheduled to start at 3 p.m. CDT (4 p.m. EDT). Tuesday’s card features divisions of the Kentucky Proud Series as Oak Grove welcomes the Western Kentucky State Fair to town.

For complete race results, click here.

From Oak Grove Racing