Red Mile Racing

Svanstedt Stable USA's NORDIC CATCHER S flew home in 26.3 to score his first victory in 1:57.1. The son of SIX PACK is from the pacing-bred mare That Woman Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere).

She was bred by Nordic Horse Farm and Joie De Vie Farm.

Breakfast With The Babies began with a 1:57.4 triumph by MARYLAND, a Chapter Seven c**t first foal from Crucial. Driven by Dexter Dunn for Melander Stable, he is owned by Stall Courant, Holly Lane East and SStewartRThorn Stable.

He was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc

COUNTDOWN TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE IS ON

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Meadowlands has hosted the greatest races in the Standardbred sport for almost 50 years now, and that tradition will continue with the most-anticipated dashes of the year coming up at The Big M over the next several weeks as the track’s Championship Meet winds its way toward the finish line, culminating with Hambletonian Day on August 3.

The countdown to the mile oval’s signature event – The Meadowlands Pace – stands at 24 days, with eliminations seven days prior to that. The date for The Pace is July 13.

The Pace Night card has a laundry list of stakes. They are (with estimated purses):

· $700,000 Meadowlands Pace

· $450,000 William R. Haughton Open Pace

· $400,000 Hambletonian Maturity

· $250,000 Stanley Dancer

· $225,000 Del Miller Memorial

· $200,000 Mistletoe Shalee

· $175,000 Dorothy Haughton Open Mare Pace

· $40,000 Miss Versatility Mare Trot (Leg 4)



“All of us at The Meadowlands love the big race cards,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “But I’d also like to talk about all of the other things we offer every weekend here in East Rutherford, counting down to the greatest night in harness racing.

“As you may know, The Meadowlands has morphed into one of the most popular and safe outdoor and indoor entertainment venues in the metropolitan area. Within the perimeter lies the premiere sports betting facility of its type in the country, The FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the destination of many sports enthusiasts in the area.”

Golf fans watched and wagered as Bryson DeChambeau sank a challenging putt on the 18th hole Sunday (June 16) to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. The next day, it was hoops lovers taking in all the action as the Boston Celtics won the NBA title for a record 18th time, as they completed a four-games-to-one series win over the Dallas Mavericks.

“The Meadowlands has been getting very nice crowds outside as the weather has been getting warmer,” said Settlemoir. “The crowds provide a great backdrop to the competitive racing we offer. That racing affords our players a chance to make big hits. Last Saturday (June 15), one lucky bettor took down the entire Pick-6 pool – which, helped by a carryover, totaled $26,880 – on a 20-cent bet.”

GRADUATE LEG 3: Like last week, the Graduate Series will sit atop The Meadowlands marquee this weekend, with four $50,000 dashes for 4-year-olds – two for pacers and two on the trot – as leg three takes place on Saturday (June 22).

After taking next week off, the two $250,000 (est.) finals will take place on Saturday, July 6, when the Meadowlands Pace eliminations will also be contested.

In Saturday’s first trot, the Nancy Takter-trained Winner’s Bet (4-5 on the morning-line) seeks a second straight Graduate score. He’ll likely have to track down Ponda Jet (5-2) again, the Jay Hochstetler trainee who showed high speed from the start in his Big M debut a week ago before getting gunned down.

Winner’s Bet’s mile time of 1:50 tied him as the fastest trotter of the year in the sport with Jiggy Jog S and Lexus Kody.

Hasty Bid (3-1), who provided three-time defending O’Brien Award-winning Driver of the Year James MacDonald one of his two Graduate victories, is off an upset, off-the-pace conquest for Takter of the Ake Svanstedt-trained Special Way (2-1), who is likely to go to the gate as the public choice for a second straight start.

The paces also have intriguing matchups.

Coach Stefanos (5-2) will seek a second straight Graduate win for Erv Miller in the first pace.

He stopped the clock in a Big M season’s-best 1:47.3 a week ago, holding off the late charge of New Jersey Maturity winner Voukefalas (7-2).

No Control (5-1) pulled off a big upset at odds of 29-1 in the other pace, as the Tan Micallef student completed the mile in 1:47.3. He and Coach Stefanos now sit tied in the top spot as the fastest performers this year at The Big M.

BRISKET THEN, WINE NOW: You don’t have to be a horse aficionado to enjoy life at The Meadowlands. Last week was a barbeque lover’s dream, as the thick aroma of delicious food was in the air all night long.

This Saturday (June 22), patrons will celebrate wine, as The Meadowlands presents its annual Winefest.

Festival highlights include wines from around the globe and a performance from DJ ALX.

The list of wineries is massive, so to get a look at the list, and to buy tickets to the event, go here.

BYRNE BRAWL: Join The Meadowlands and ISPW on Saturday, June 29, for the first-ever Brendan Byrne Brawl.

This live pro wrestling event features seven action-packed matches.

The family friendly outing begins at 7 p.m., and matches will include Crowbar vs. ISPW Champion Rey Calitri as well as Big Vito vs. Rick Recon.

Matches will take place in between the live races, with general admission tickets priced at $20 and VIP tickets to be sold for $100. VIP tickets include admission for four with seats at a picnic table next to the ring.

BABY, YOU’RE A FIREWORK: Head to the track on Saturday (July 6) for Fan Appreciation Night, when the Cafe, Rooftop Terrace and Backyard will offer low-priced concession items. Available for $1 will be hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn and soda (limit five of each item per transaction). Available for $2 will be Bud and Bud Light drafts (for those 21 years of age and older).

Discount prices are available from 6-11 p.m. only, and after the races, there will be a free fireworks show for all patrons to enjoy.

COME LAUGH A LOT: Comedy Night returns to The Meadowlands on Friday, July 12, and due to repeated sold out shows in the past, there will now be two shows offered, one at 7 p.m., and the other at 9:30 p.m.

Each show features different comics so guests have the option to purchase tickets for both. You will be able to keep the same seats for both shows.

For more information, a talent list, and to purchase tickets, go here.

MEADOWLANDS PACE NIGHT: Come and be a part of the “Biggest Party in Harness Racing”, as Meadowlands Pace Night takes place on Saturday, July 13.

The track’s signature event features the following festivities:

· “Pace Be With You” T-Shirt Giveaway – Begins 5 p.m.; first 5,000 guests

· DJ in the Backyard – DJ ALX

· Carnival rides and games – including mechanical shark, toxic moonwalk, 3-in-1 sports game, toxic obstacle course, axe throwing and two carnival games

· Win free $500 Win Bets – Five winners will have a chance to place a $500 win bet on a designated race. Entry in the live racing program

· Meadowlands Burger Battle

· Food Trucks

· Dining

· You can guarantee a spot to dine and watch all of the races in The Lounge, which is the center of the action with front row seats to Victory’s giant screens. There are two- and four-top tables and bar seats available. Ticket purchase acts as food and beverage credit for Victory Sports Bar menu

· For complete information, and to make reservations, go here

THE SKED: Live racing takes place every Friday and Saturday at The Meadowlands with a first-race post time of 6:20 p.m.

The Big M’s live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pregame show begins every racing night at 5:45 p.m.

Racing will take place every Friday and Saturday through Aug. 3. Post time is always 6:20 p.m. with the exception of Aug. 3, Hambletonian Day, when post time is noon.

FREE PROGRAMS EVERY NIGHT: Past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available free of charge. All one has to do is go to playmeadowlands.com to access the information.

“X” MARKS THE SPOT: Everything Meadowlands is available by going on X (formerly known as Twitter). You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to or .

Stay in touch with The Big M team of Jessica Otten (), Dave Little () and Ken Warkentin ().

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Meadowlands’ appetizing betting menu is now a little tastier with the addition of a second 20-cent Pick-5, joining the pair of 50-cent Pick-4s already on the bill of fare.

There are eight wagers nightly that offer a chance for players to make a big hit while betting into big pools that offer a low takeout of just 15 percent. Here is the lineup:

· Races 1-5: Early 20-cent Pick-5

· Races 2-8: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 (mandatory payout nightly)

· Races 4-9: 20-cent Pick-6

· Races 6-9: Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

· Race 7: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

· Races 8-12: Late 20-cent Pick-5

· Races 10-13: Late 50-cent Pick-4 ($50,000 guaranteed pool)

· Races 11: 10-cent Pentafecta (Hi-5)

RALLIS’ RACE REVIEWS: For some help with your handicapping, check out the race reviews of The Big M’s morning-line odds maker and program analyst, John Rallis.

Rallis’ reviews are available 48 hours before a given card, and all one has to do to access the information is go to playmeadowlands.com, go to the “handicapping” tab, then click “race reviews.”

BRING THE KIDS, WIN A CAR: When you come to The Meadowlands, you can make a score at the windows. But now, you could also walk away with a brand new 2024 Toyota Camry LE AWD by participating in the track’s HorsePlay Giveaway, which takes place every race day until Friday, Aug. 2.

The HorsePlay Giveaway is sponsored by Purple Haze Stables.

The contest has patrons throwing little plastic horses into the car that will be given away for a chance to win it. Of those horses that end up on the track, the kids can get involved. Children who help out picking up the plastic horses off the track will receive a free ice cream at the Café.

For complete information, and to enter this extremely popular promotion, go here.

FANDUEL IS FANTASTIC: The FanDuel Sportsbook, the No. 1 facility of its type in North America, is something Meadowlands fans are well aware of. After all, it’s located inside the grandstand at the mile oval.

With numerous huge-screen TVs, plenty of comfortable seating and food and drink options, serious sports bettors know that the book at the track is the place to be.

The battle for the American League East continues Thursday (June 20) at 4:05 p.m. when the Baltimore Orioles travel to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are a -148 favorite in the game that has an under/over of 8½ runs.

Whatever the sport, for the latest odds, go here.

The FanDuel Sportsbook is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-midnight. For cash-at-counter customers, the hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

Bet On Big Joe Completes Proud Series Grand Slam for Debeck

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity (Mark Herron photo)

OAK GROVE, KY — Trainer Rod Debeck led the marathon day at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, scoring a grand slam from the 24 divisions of Kentucky Proud Series wrapped by Bet On Big Joe -- the fastest winner of the afternoon -- on the special Wednesday (June 19) card.

Bet On Big Joe (driven by Tyler Shehan) posted the swiftest mile of the day in the 23rd of the day's 24 races; 15 on the pari-mutuel card and nine non-wagering events. Bet On Big Joe circled to the lead past the quarter and chugged down the road to post a 1-1/4-length win in 1:54 over pocket-sitter Designated Freak (Verlin Yoder). Debeck owns and trains the Betting Line gelding who won his fifth race from 15 tries, has earned $39,560 and paid $2.32 to win.

Debeck also sent the winner in the fastest race for the 3-year-old trotting c**ts when Escaper (Matt Krueger) completed his pillar-to-post 1:55 effort. The winning Muscle Hill gelding kept 1-2 favorite Swan Explosion (Peter Wrenn) at bay in the final strides to win by 2-1/4 lengths, registering his fourth win from 15 starts and adding to his bankroll now worth $29,580. He paid $7.14 to win.

Aside from his pair of divisional leader's on the day's racing, Debeck also notched wins with Priti Noor (Devon Tharps, 1:58 winning mile; $6.82 to win) in a 3-year-old trotting filly division and Gottakeepondreamin (Rodney Debeck, 2:04.2; $4.60) in a 2-year-old trotting filly split.

Trainer Randy Jerrell scored a hat trick on the afternoon while winning with the fastest 2-year-old pacing c**t of the day Doc's Buddy (Randy Jerrell) in his only victory on the pari-mutuel card. Doc's Buddy parked the mile but powered home off a slow first half to win by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:57.4 over Got Bourbon (Tony Dinges) vaulting over the field for second. The winning son of He's Watching registered his third win from four starts and has now earned $15,750 for owner-breeder Dr. Andrew Roberts.

Jerrell's other wins came before the betting card with You Fear Me (Randy Jerrell, 1:59) and Purple Toad (Pat Curtin, 1:59.2) winning in two of the 2-year-old pacing filly divisions.

In the non-betting portion of the day, Yo Tillie (Verlin Yoder) posted the fastest mile of the three divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Yo Tillie managed to be the only starter in the field to not break stride and so strolled from the start to the finish of a 1:59.3 mile with Something Else (Marvin Luna) second, beaten 14-1/2 lengths. Yoder owns and trains the winning daughter of Tactical Landing.

Early in the betting card, Aintnothingucando (Terry Skinner) topped the three divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies with a front-stepping 1:55.3 score over pocket-sitter Cinamontoastcrunch (Ernie Hendry). Terry Skinner trains and co-owns the undefeated daughter of Odds On Equuleus who has now banked $15,000 from three starts. She paid $2.78 to win.

Of the 2-year-old trotting c**ts and geldings, the regally bred World By Storm (Brandon Bates) popped off a pocket ride to a 2:00.3 victory in his career debut. The Tactical Landing c**t, out of stakes-winning mare Womans Will, kicked 2-1/4 lengths clear of leader Jog On Col (Emanuel Miller) to win for owner-trainer Mike Hollenback.

Real Deal Lindy (Matt Krueger) led the 3-year-old pacing fillies when powering off a first-over grind to a 3-1/2 length win in 1:55. Erv Miller trains the daughter of Huntsville, who won her eighth race from 15 starts, for owner Douglas Overhiser. The winner of $61,325 returned a $2.10 mutuel.

Trainer Erv Miller also sent the fastest of the winners in the 3-year-old filly trot with Hauteur (Joey Putnam), who clocked a 1:55.3 mile. The daughter of Muscle Hill worked an easy lead and outsprinted the pocket-popping Embrace The Future (Louis Baudron) by a neck to notch her second win from nine starts. She has earned $23,310 for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Glenn Bechtel, Louis Willinger and Rob Tribbett and she paid $3.38 to win.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday (June 24) with the usual 3 p.m. (CDT) first-race post time. Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website (https://www.oakgrovegaming.com/racing/handicapping-resources/).

Orlando Blue A Destroys in Oak Grove Feature

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity (Mark Herron photo)

OAK GROVE, Ky. — Sent the odds-on choice, Orlando Blue A waited to pounce and attacked with devastating fervor to record an open-length 1:52 victory in the $18,000 featured pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday (June 18).

Leaving from post 2, Orlando Blue A (driven by Atlee Bender) floated away fourth off the wings as Caviart Stoney (John MacDonald) motored for the front through a :26.2 first quarter. Caviart Stoney maintained his speed through a :55.1 half and tried to accelerate up the backside while Bender sat until about the midpoint of the backstretch to make his move. Once rolling, Orlando Blue A cleared to the lead by three-quarters in 1:22.3 and scampered away from his rivals through the final turn. Orlando Blue A strolled through the stretch to hit the beam 5-3/4 lengths better than fast-closing Lil Joe III (Geremy Bobbitt) in second with Caviart Stoney fading to third and MIki Leaks (Brandon Bates) settling for fourth.

A 7-year-old gelding by Heston Blue Chip, Orlando Blue A has now won 18 races from 70 starts and earned $160,492. Erv Miller trains the $2.64 winner for his Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Douglas Overhiser.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Wednesday (June 19) for a special card beginning at 11 a.m. (CDT). Wednesday's pari-mutuel card features 15 races total for the Kentucky Proud Series and has two carryovers in play: a $400.87 carryover in the Early Pick 3 (beginning in Race 4) and a $1,140.98 carryover in the Late Pick 4 (beginning in Race 12). Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website (https://www.oakgrovegaming.com/racing/handicapping-resources/).

Admiral Hill Sets Track Record at Oak Grove with Kentucky Sire Stakes Win

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity (Mark Herron photo)

OAK GROVE, Ky. — Per Engblom's pacing titan Admiral Hill again exerted authority over his peers to muscle a near gate-to-wire victory in the $50,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) third round at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (June 17) while also going the fastest mile ever paced over the track by an aged gelding.

Starting from the outermost post in the quintet, Admiral Hill (driven by Yannick Gingras) floated off the wings and towards the front through a :26.1 first quarter carved by stablemate Blue Lou (Dexter Dunn) leaving from the pylon post. Once on the helm, Admiral Hill filled his lungs to a :54.3 half and breezed up the backside when blitzed by For Once Inmy Life (Andy McCarthy), who stayed at the pacesetter's throat by three-quarters in 1:21.1 and all through the final turn. Gingras hit the pedal at the top of the stretch with a few taps of the whip and Admiral Hill accelerated for the finish to a wrapped win by a length in 1:48.3. Tip Top Cat (Todd McCarthy) closed from second over for second with Blue Lou taking third and For Once Inmy Life fading to fourth.

Winning his sixth race from seven starts this season and his 15th from 33 in his career, Admiral Hill has now banked $434,008. Morrison Racing Stables owns the gelding by Sweet Lou who paid $2.76 to win. His 1:48.3 mile bested the previous Oak Grove track record for aged pacing geldings of 1:48.4 set by Surfer Beach in 2022 and matched by Goldie's Legacy a month after.

French Wine (Andy Miller) just missed the Oak Grove track record when he won the first of three KYSS divisions for trotting males with a 1:51.2 romp. Miller grabbed the lead from post 5 past a steep first quarter of :26.1 but snagged enough of a breather to a :56 half to storm through the remainder. Easily rebuffing a first-over push from The Hazelton (Yannick Gingras) to three-quarters in 1:23.4, French Wine scampered clear of his peers and widened his advantage all through the lane until passing the beam 6-1/2 lengths in front of Brodeur (Dexter Dunn) rallying for second. Country Dagger (Andy McCarthy) sat a pocket trip and gave chase in third while Once In A Lifetime (Todd McCarthy) rallied down the center of the track for fourth.

A stallion by the late Bar Hopping, French Wine has now won 11 times from 34 starts and banked $1,119,194 for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Daniel Plouffe, Jean Plouffe and One Legend Stable Inc. Julie Miller trains the victor who returned $7.14 to win.

Drink Up Drink Up (Marvin Luna) landed a monumental upset in the second KYSS split when rising from the ash of a torrid tempo and striking a 29-1 blow in the closing strides of a 1:53.2 mile. Action initiated promptly with a three-wide battle to the first turn won by Djimon (David Miller), who paid a :26.3 toll to get to the lead. Cecil Hanover (Peter Wrenn) then followed suit passing the stands to move for the lead with 1-9 choice Bestfriend Volo (Dexter Dunn) tracking his cover before taking over control at a :54.2 half. Dunn let Bestfriend Volo roll up the backside towards three-quarters in 1:22.4 but quickly came under pressure to the final turn as Djimon pulled out of third and lead a charge swarming for the lead. Show Me A Million (Lewayne Miller) also came swinging for home but Drink Up Drink Up had the most steam from between horses and motored for the lead in midstretch. Drink Up Drink Up stayed firm to the finish to keep a neck up on Djimon in second and Show Me A Million in third while Cecil Hanover managed to take fourth.

Paying $60.18 to win, Drink Up Drink Up notched his seventh win from 32 starts and has now earned $117,278. Walter Haynes Jr. trains the gelded son of Trixton for owner Adam Friedland.

Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) later scored a decisive pillar-to-post win in the final KYSS split for trotting males. Dunn cleared command from Prince Of Honor (Todd McCarthy) after a :27.1 first quarter and marched through the rest unfazed. Clocking a :56 half and three-quarters in 1:24.1, Ari Ferrari J drew clear of Prince Of Honor in the lane to register a four-length win in 1:52.2 with Ahadi As (David Miller) saving ground to take third and Yo Tater (Verlin Yoder) rallying from last for fourth.

Tony Alagna trains Ari Ferrari J, a stallion by Walner, for owner Kenneth Jacobs. He won his ninth race from 35 starts, has now banked $873,681 and paid $2.72 to win.

Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) dominated her peers in the lone KYSS dash for pacing fillies with a 1:49.4 stroll on the lead. Though Hungry For Love (David Miller) took the lead past a :26 first quarter, Gingras moved quickly with Strong Poison to circle back to the top before a :55 half and coasted to the end. She clicked by three-quarters in 1:22 and needed just a tap or two of the whip through the lane to stay on the straight and narrow to a length win over Hungry For Love while Zanatta (Andy Miller) gave chase off a pylon ride in third and Keep My Secret (Andy McCarthy) rallied down the center of the track for fourth.

Virgil Morgan Jr. trains Strong Poison, a daughter of Always B Miki, for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. She won her 12th race from 32 starts, has now earned $924,475 and paid $2.66 to win.

Mambacita (Dexter Dunn) applied similar dominance to her rivals with a 1:52.1 win in the single division of KYSS for trotting mares. Leaving from the pylon post, Mambacita secured the top with ease and carved a clip of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.4 all with Railee Something (Andy McCarthy) breathing on her back. Dunn braced for the charge of Railee Something moving around the final turn and Mambacita again kept finding once confronted and waded off Railee Something's bid to the beam by a half length. Canterbury Hanover (Andy Miller) rallied for third, beaten another four lengths, with Picaboo Lady (Yannick Gingras) fourth.

A daughter of Tactical Landing, Mambacita has now won 17 races from 37 starts and earned $970,418 for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Alagna Racing LLC and Pryde Stables Inc. Tony Alagna trains the mare who paid $2.32 to win.

A pair of Open Pace events also went postward on the undercard. Battle of Lake Erie champ Little Rocket Man (John DeLong) made a pitstop to Oak Grove and survived a parked mile to post a 1:49.3 win by two lengths in the $41,000 Open Pace. Ken Rucker trains the now 60-time winner for owners Russel Beeman and Jack Freeman and he paid $3.04 to win. Marloe Hanover (Todd McCarthy) later led nearly every step of the mile to grab victory in the $41,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace with a 1:50.4 effort. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains 44-time winner for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing and she returned $5.22 to win.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 18) at 3 p.m. (CDT). Oak Grove will also race an additional day this week with a special 15-race pari-mutuel card on Wednesday (June 19) race card featuring the Kentucky Proud Series that gets underway at 11 a.m. (CDT). Free program pages for every race day, courtesy of TrackMaster, are available on the Oak Grove Racing website (https://www.oakgrovegaming.com/racing/handicapping-resources/).

SOUTH BEACH STAR 1:49 WINNER AT PHILLY

ATTRIBUTION – PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia (Chris Tully photo)

CHESTER PA – South Beach Star parlayed a perfect pocket journey into a 1:49 victory in the $15,000 fast-class handicap pace Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Boiling Oar (Tim Tetrick, post six) and South Beach Star (David Miller, post seven) both boiled away once the gate sprung, and when the Hall Of Famer on the inside asked his horse for a little more mid-first turn, the Hall Of Famer on the outside recognized he was to have a two-hole trip and backed his horse off. Boiling Oil sizzled to fractions of :25.4, :53.4, and 1:21, with favored Maximus Miki getting into the big battle before the three-quarters.

In the stretch, Miller dipped the victorious altered son of Somebeachsomewhere to the inside and he produced the most pace late; Maximus Miki held well for second, a length behind the winner and a neck ahead of closing Grand Cayman, who got the show dough ahead of Boiling Oar in a photo.

After losing by a neck in his 2024 bow, South Beach Star has been perfect in four starts, including a win in the Senditin Invitational on Harrah’s Super Sunday. Mark Silva trains the winner of $443,494 for All Star Racing Inc.

An $11,000 fast-class subfeature pace went to the Bettor’s Delight gelding Arden Messi N, who came his last half in :54.1 while rallying from midpack to win in 1:50.2 under Jack Pelling’s handling. Arden Messi N has now won half of his last six starts for trainer Andrew Harris, who is also co-owner with Bruce Areman.

There were a pair of $12,000 contests for developing horses. The pacing contest saw The Good Doctor show no ill effects from a 20-day layoff, going right down the road in 1:50.1 - :54.4 - :27 while establishing a new mark. Johnathan Ahle drove the son of American Ideal for trainer Noel Daley and owner Morrison Racing Stables.

On the trot, the Walner gelding Mucho Loco landed in the three-hole after an alert start for driver Simon Allard, bided his time inside, then found room deep in the passing lane to edge out his competition while lowering his lifetime best to 1:55.2. Mark Akins trains the winner of two of his last three for A 1 Racing. Allard had four winners on the afternoon to lead all drivers, with two wins coming for Akins, the only trainer to have multiple wins.

Harrah’s continues its schedule of Thursday and Friday racing at 12:25 and Sunday action at 12:40; there will be a carryover into the fifth race Pick-5 on Thursday. Free Harrah’s programs will be available at www.phha.org.

Stars converge on Oak Grove for last 4-year-old KYSS prelim

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity (Mark Herron photo: Mambacita)

OAK GROVE, Ky. — Many of harness racing's top performers — both human and equine — will converge on Oak Grove on Monday afternoon (June 17) to contest $300,000 worth of third-round Kentucky Sire Stakes preliminary heats and a pair of $41,000 Open events.

Since arriving at Oak Grove in April, Crawford Farms Racing, Alagna Racing and Pryde Stables' Mambacita has been flawless. She has reeled off five wins in as many starts so far this season, all in Kentucky Sire Stakes competition, and she seeks a sixth in Monday's sixth race, the lone third-round split for 4-year-old trotting mares. The daughter of Tactical Landing has won 16 of 36 starts in her career, has earned $945,418 to date in her career, and on Monday will again be driven by Dexter Dunn after he steered her to a 1:52.3 seasonal mark on June 4. On the strength of her 2024 campaign, the Tony Alagna trainee has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite from the pole, followed by Railee Something (to be driven by Andy McCarthy), at 3-1, after working into four consecutive second-place finishes to Mambacita.

Admiral Hill looks to complete a sweep of the summer preliminaries in race one, the lone event for 4-year-old male pacers. Having prevailed at odds-on in both preliminaries to date in the current series, the Sweet Lou gelding has won five of six races this season and retains the services of driver Yannick Gingras. Per Engblom trains the 14-time winner, who has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in the field of five, for Morrison Racing Stables.

The 4-year-old mare pace (race three) figures to be more contested, with spring series champion Strong Poison returning to Oak Grove following a 1:49.4 Open win at Eldorado Scioto Downs and a defeat at MGM Northfield Park. The Always B Miki mare is approaching $900,000 in career earnings, and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. has retained Gingras to again drive the 8-5 early favorite from post one in the six-mare field. To Strong Poison's immediate outside is Zanatta (7-2, Andy Miller), who rode the pocket to a 1:51 win in her June 4 preliminary, while preliminary runner-up Hungry For Love (5-2, David Miller) will start from post five.

A total of 21 4-year-old male trotters entered the third preliminary, and they have been split into three divisions: races two, four and eight. Spring series champion Bestfriend Volo brings a five-race winning streak into the second split for trainer Nancy Takter, and Dunn will again drive the Walner gelding, installed at even money, from post four in the field of seven. Dunn also gets the call on Alagna trainee Ari Ferrari J, who has been listed at 7-5 after winning both his preliminary splits in the current series, in the third split.

The fifth and seventh races are the weekly Open Paces, now offering $41,000 purses and both featuring full 10-horse fields. In all, $447,000 in purse money will be at stake on the 12-race program.

First post is 3 p.m. CDT (4 p.m. EDT); free past-performance pages and The Players' Guide, featuring commentary from racing analyst Ray Cotolo, are available on the Oak Grove website (https://www.oakgrovegaming.com/racing/handicapping-resources/).