Youngsters shine on big day at Oak Grove

Oak Grove, KY — On Sunday (July 3) Wind Chime (Father Patrick-Wind Stroll) romped by 12 lengths in the second of two $25,000 legs in second round harness racing action of the Oak Grove Early Sire Stakes at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel for 2-year-old filly trotters to remain a perfect two-for-two in her young career.

Cant Stop Lou (Sweet Lou-Can’t Stop Me Now) also emerged from Sunday’s card undefeated after an adventurous journey in the sole $25,000 leg for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.  Yo Lucky Moni (International Moni-Unbelindyble), Over And Back (Trixton-Chim Swift), Hungry For Love (Stay Hungry-Lover Of Art), and Flirtinwiththehelp (Helpisontheway-Classical Flirt) were the winners of the other four divisions over the five-eighths-mile oval. 

Wind Chime blows away the field; Flirtinwiththehelp teases her rivals in 2-year-old filly trots

Wind Chime (Dexter Dunn) immediately grabbed the lead after leaving from post position four. She simply trotted around the track with her seven rivals giving chase, to stop the clock in 1:55.1. Halekai Ill (Christian Lind) was second and was more than two seconds behind Wind Chime. Boudicca (Tony Hall) was third. 

Trained by Tony Alagna, Wind Chime is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Gty Stable, Walter Zent and Tony Holmes. She is a half-sibling to Windy Corner (Yankee Glide, $207,576), Evening Stroll (Cantab Hall, $147,467) and Fast As The Wind (Cantab Hall, $690,524). Fast As The Wind is a top contender for this year’s Hambletonian. He was second in last year’s Breeders Crown final and recently captured the $193, 270 Goodtimes Stake. 

Flirtinwiththehelp (Trevor Smith) won the first leg for filly trotters on the front end in 1:59.3. The filly never had an anxious moment during her mile. Shopping In Paris (Tony Hall) was second and Las Alturas (Andy Miller) was third. 

Trained by Todd Luther, Flirtinwiththehelp broke her maiden her second attempt. She is owned by Black Magic Racing and paid $35 as the public’s sixth choice in the field of eight. 

Cant Stop Lou is unstoppable in freshman colt and gelding pace

Cant Stop Lou stopped the clock in 1:54.2 in the sole division for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The son of Sweet Lou and Can’t Stop Me Now (Josert Fonseca) left from post seven in the field of seven. Already carried wide, the colt’s momentum was seriously impacted after Base Stealer (Logan Loney) broke shortly before the half-mile marker. 

Cant Stop Lou he gathered himself and strode to the wire with a :27.4 last quarter-mile. Seven Out (Andy Miller) was second and Lootable (John Macdonald) were third. 

Owned by Nancy Takter, Jaf Racing, Rojan Stables, R A W Equine and Jeffrey Bell, Cant Stop Lou is trained by Takter. He was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and is a full sibling to Fortify ($452,215). His record now stands at two-for-two. 

Can’t Stop Lou paid $5.60 to win.

Hungry For Love satisfies her appetite in 2-year-old filly pace

Hungry For Love (John Macdonald) collected her second victory in the lone leg for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Leaving from post position 10 in the field of 10, the race favorite settled in fifth after leaving the gate but assumed command after the first quarter-mile. Prideful (Andy Miller) was the public’s second selection and raced accordingly as the filly started in second and remained there until the wire. My Nay Nay (Devon Tharps) closed mildly to be third. 

Owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon, Hungry For Love is a half sibling to Rock Me Baby (Rock N Roll Heaven, $394,523), Art Scene (American Ideal, $530,431) and Summer Charm (Bettor’s Delight, $422,238). 

Yo Lucky Moni; Over And Back break their maidens in 2-year-old male trots

Yo Lucky Moni took the first division for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters for his owner/trainer/driver, Verlin Yoder, in a swift 1:55.1. The gelding began to trot his mile from post position three and remained in that position until the three-quarter mile marker. Overkill Hall (Dewayne Minor) made the race interesting but settled for second. Longtail (Dexter Dunn) was third.

Sent off as the second choice in the field of seven, Yo Lucky Moni paid $6.80. He now sports a record of 3-1-1-1. 

Over And Back (Andy Miller) won the second leg for his age, sex and gait by a head in 1:58. The gelding took the lead right at the start but relinquished after the first quarter mile content to sit in the garden seat until the stretch drive. When given his cue, Over And Back battled last week’s winner and heavy favorite Whole Nother (Dexter Dunn) to the wire. Make A Wish Deo (Todd Warren) was third. 

Trained by Chris Beaver, who also co-owns the gelding with Aaron Merriman, Renee Bercury and Johanna Beaver, Over And Back collected his first win in his second start. 

Now that the two sire stakes rounds for 2-year-olds have concluded, a $25,000 consolation and $100,000 final will be held on July 17. 

Second leg action for 3-year-olds continues at Oak Grove on Monday (July 4). The $25,000 consolation and final for sophomores will be held on July 18. 

Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel features live harness racing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. First post is 3 p.m. CDT. For more information on Kentucky’s Standardbred programs and updated point standings for sire stakes and other series events, please click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kimberly French, for the Kentucky Harness Association