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OAK GROVE, KY — Ronald Mersky’s sophomore harness racing trotting filly Railee Something (International Moni) continued to strut her strength when again trouncing older competition to this time take the $15,000 featured event at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on Monday (May 8) — a day where yet another handle record was set at the young southwest Kentucky oval.
Trainer-driver Roger Cullipher sat off the speed with Railee Something as a three-high battle for command clicked past a :27.1 first quarter. From between horses, Jacked (driven by John MacDonald) emerged on the lead with Simply Swan (Joey Putnam), three wide around the first turn, settling into the pocket ahead of Pilgrims Image (Atlee Bender). Cullipher sat still from fourth with Railee Something as the heat dwindled through a :55.4 half.
Jacked rolled along the backstretch as Pilgrims Image mounted a first-over bid and Railee Something slowly turned through the gears. Pilgrims Image continued to push forward through three-quarters in 1:24 and soon had Railee Something on his back rounding for home. Cullipher sent Railee Something off cover into the lane and zipped by to open a 2-3/4-length lead to the end of a 1:53.3 mile with Pilgrims Image left behind in second. Jacked held third and Simply Swan gave chase from fourth.
Railee Something is a homebred for owner Ronald Mersky. She remains unbeaten from two starts this season while adding an eighth win to her resume of 14 races and depositing another check to bring her lifetime earnings to $216,601. She paid $3.26 to win.
Oak Grove has now set handle records on back-to-back cards and in three of its last four cards of racing. The previous record was set last Monday (May 1) with $358,845 churning through the windows from 12 races. But this Monday, the Oak Grove faithful pushed $419,168 over 12 races.
Live racing at Oak Grove resumes Tuesday (May 9) with the race card initially scheduled for this past Sunday (May 7). Inclement weather prompted a rescheduling of Sunday’s races, so the Tuesday card will feature third-preliminary action in the Kentucky Sires Stakes for 4-year-olds on the pace and on the trot. First post is 3 p.m. CDT (4 p.m. EDT).
For complete race results, click here.
