Endurance Lowers Oak Grove Track Record with KYSS Win

July 7, 2025

Oak Grove, KY — Chris Beaver trainee Hunterton Bred, Born and Sold Endurance finished with a flourish to grab fourth in his debut, but driver Andy McCarthy hustled the colt to the point to then strolled around the track under wraps to set a track record for 2-year-old trotting colts when winning his $40,000 split of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday afternoon (July 7).


Leaving from post six, McCarthy endured a three-wide brush through a :27.3 first quarter to place Endurance on the helm while Lethal Legacy (driven by Todd McCarthy) obliged for the pocket ride. Endurance carved a :56.4 half and cruised to three-quarters in 1:26 before receiving a few taps of the whip and accelerating for home. He pulled well clear of his competition in the lane and sailed to a 3-1/2-length win over longshot Silverstein (David Miller), who closed for second, with Lethal Legacy tiring to third and Negotiation (Scott Zeron) checking in fourth. Endurance stopped the clock in 1:54.3, which eclipsed the previous track record for 2-year-old trotting colts of 1:54.4 set by Overkill Hall in 2022.


A colt by Captain Corey, Endurance won his first race from two starts and has now earned $23,200 for owners Chris Beaver, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger. He paid $6.06 to win.


Jailbird Jog (Anthony MacDonald) maintained her unbeaten record from two starts in posting the fastest mile of the two KYSS divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies. The daughter of Tactical Landing hoisted herself forward from fifth off a :29 first quarter to take the lead into a :57.3 half while then withstanding a first-over push from 25-1 shot Country Glide (David Miller) through three-quarters in 1:27.1. She then coasted to the finish with the whip tucked away to register a measured win by three-quarter lengths in a 1:55.4 mile. Country Glide took second with Isotta Bi (Dexter Dunn) another six lengths behind in third and Lucky Lady Volo (Marcus Miller) another six lengths farther back in fourth.


Trained by Eric Patalan, Jailbird Jog has now banked $40,000 from her two wins for owners Thestable Jailbird Jog, P23 Bloodstock and Hutchison Harness LLC. She paid $2.26 to win.


In the following race, Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy) capitalized off a torrid tempo to post the fastest mile of the two KYSS splits for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Funky Buddha sat fifth as Papi Rick (Andy McCarthy) uncorked an early clip of :27, :56 and 1:23.3 with 1-2 favorite What Nooo Waaay (Yannick Gingras) perched on his back. Todd McCarthy angled outside to the final turn with Funky Buddha and gradually reeled in tiring rivals through the stretch to cross the finish in a 1:52.4 mile, two-fifths of a second off the track record. Prolific Blend (Scott Zeron) also rallied to take second while What Nooo Waaay just grabbed third from Papi Rick in fourth.


A colt by Sweet Lou, Funky Buddha collected his second win from three starts and has now earned $36,000 for owner Rick Berks. Tony Dinges trains the colt, and he paid $13.18 to win.


Barbuda Belle (Yannick Gingras) emerged with the top mile of the three KYSS divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies with her 1:53.4 front-stepping score. Gingras circled the Ron Burke trainee to the lead after a :28.3 first quarter set by Kissin In The Dark (Atlee Bender) and strode through middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:26.2 before shutting the door in a final-quarter sprint to peel clear by three lengths from Kissin In The Dark. Carolina (Todd McCarthy) finished third, another eight lengths behind, with Naughty Seastar (David Miller) checking in fourth.


A daughter of Captaintreacherous, Barbuda Belle won her first race from two starts and cashed a $20,000 check for owners Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon and Craig Henderson. She paid $3.92 to win.


Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (July 8) with the second preliminary of Kentucky Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. For free past performances and more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com.

July 8, 2025
Hunterton, Bred, Born and Sold Grande Via (Yannick Gingras) blitzed 6-5 leader Te Quiero Lindy (Andy Miller) at an opportune point of the final turn to bag a wrapped-up win in the quickest mile of the three KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Gingras secured the pocket to Te Quiero Lindy, who carved a tempo of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3 while unfettered on the point. As Miller gave his charge a few taps of the whip to the final turn, Gingras fanned off the pegs and slid forward to put a head in front spinning for home. Grande Via held his advantage over Te Quiero Lindy in the sprint to the finish to cross the beam a half length better in a 1:54.3 mile while Sky Legacy (Dexter Dunn) took third and Beaujolais Breeze (David Miller) finished fourth. Andrew Harris trains Grande Via, a colt by Muscle Hill , and shares ownership with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. He broke his maiden with the victory, his 16th outing in the career, and paid $21.76 to win.
July 8, 2025
Oak Grove, KY — Sent the 1-5 favorite, Hunterton Bred, Born and Sold Unreasonable journeyed first-up on the rim and easily ground down her competition to post the top mile of Tuesday afternoon’s (July 8) Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) events at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel in winning her division for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Driver Marcus Miller landed in fourth out of post three with Unreasonable as Duration (driven by Scott Zeron) ripped from the outermost post to the lead into a :26.1 first quarter. Duration continued on the muscle to a :54.3 half, where Miller readied Unreasonable for a move off the pylons approaching the backstretch. Unreasonable marched forward under wraps and zipped past Duration through three-quarters in 1:23 before then scooting away in the lane and win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:52. Treacheryinthedark (Todd McCarthy) followed the winner’s move from second-over for second while Accede (Yannick Gingras) tipped out of a pocket ride to grab third and Baret (Andy McCarthy) closed for fourth. A daughter of Huntsville , Unreasonable collected her fifth win from 14 starts and has now earned $210,582 for owners Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and David J. Miller. She paid $2.46 to win. Driver Geremy Bobbitt scored the biggest win of his young career when he steered owner-trainer Rod DeBeck’s Captain Arturovico to a 16-1 upset in the fastest division of the KYSS for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Bobbitt found a second-over ride after 3-5 favorite Ayeaye Captain Deo (Todd McCarthy) cut early fractions of :27.3 and :55.4. Falcon (Marcus Miller) pressed first-up on the rim and matched strides with Ayeaye Captain Deo through three-quarters in 1:25.1 while Bobbitt loomed three-wide for the stretch drive. Captain Arturovico built momentum in the stretch as Falcon jumped into a gallop, and he surged forward to collar Ayeaye Captain Deo by a head in the closing strides of a 1:53 mile. Bourbon County (Dexter Dunn) finished third and Handsome Stranger (Andy McCarthy) closed for fourth. Captain Arturovico, a gelding by Captaintreacherous , has now won seven times from 10 starts this season and eight times from 19 starts in his career, earning $76,509. He paid $34.60 to win. Grande Via (Yannick Gingras) blitzed 6-5 leader Te Quiero Lindy (Andy Miller) at an opportune point of the final turn to bag a wrapped-up win in the quickest mile of the three KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Gingras secured the pocket to Te Quiero Lindy, who carved a tempo of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3 while unfettered on the point. As Miller gave his charge a few taps of the whip to the final turn, Gingras fanned off the pegs and slid forward to put a head in front spinning for home. Grande Via held his advantage over Te Quiero Lindy in the sprint to the finish to cross the beam a half length better in a 1:54.3 mile while Sky Legacy (Dexter Dunn) took third and Beaujolais Breeze (David Miller) finished fourth. Andrew Harris trains Grande Via, a colt by Muscle Hill , and shares ownership with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. He broke his maiden with the victory, his 16th outing in the career, and paid $21.76 to win. Admiring (David Miller) put her rivals to sleep with a pillar-to-post win in the faster of the two KYSS division for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Despite starting from post seven, Miller crossed over to the lead just entering the first turn and posted fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25.1 in progress to a widening victory by four lengths. Belmont (Dexter Dunn) gave futile chase from a pocket trip in second but did just hold off late-charging 1-2 favorite Ms Prada (Yannick Gingras), who took third. Get It All (Mattias Melander) finished another four lengths behind in fourth. Richard “Nifty” Norman trains Admiring, a filly by Walner , for owners Tony Holmes and June Zent. She won her fourth race from 19 starts, has now earned $108,650 and paid $15.72 to win. Racing at Oak Grove continues on Sunday (July 13) for closing week of the 2025 meet. Monday’s (July 14) card will feature the eight finals of KYSS for 2- and 3-year-olds of both gaits and sexes, with total purses for that day close to $1 million. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. (CDT). For free past performances and more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com .
June 30, 2025
Oak Grove, KY — Driver Devon Tharps gave Later Dudes an aggressive front-stepping steer while never giving an inch in a back-half sprint to hold on for victory at odds of 8-1 in the $40,000 Open Handicap Pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (June 30). Leaving from post five, Later Dudes secured the lead through a :26.4 first quarter over Dale Yeah (driven by Marvin Luna) with Western Era (Atlee Bender) taking back to third and even-money favorite Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) settling in fourth after firing from the outermost post. Later Dudes snagged a breather to a :56.1 half, where Bender made the move to send Western Era first up with Saulsbrook Victor on his back moving for the backstretch. Western Era ranged forward to match strides with Later Dudes to three-quarters in 1:23.1 and stayed in lockstep with the leader through the final turn. Later Dudes cut the corner and regained control spinning for home while holding his ground in the final quarter mile to keep Western Era at bay by a neck in a 1:51 mile. Dale Yeah emerged from the pocket trip and split rivals late but settled for third while Saulsbrook Victor finished evenly from a second-over trip for fourth. An 8-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou trained by Ron Burke, Later Dudes won his fifth race from 19 starts this season and his 38th from 171 starts overall, earning $743,265 in the process. He competes for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and paid $19.80 to win. Jada Caroline (Atlee Bender) took the top past the quarter and stayed game to post a 1:51.3 win earlier on the day in the $40,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace. Bender brushed Jada Caroline to the fore after a :26.2 first quarter cut by Yankee B Something (Marcus Miller). She kept the tempo hot to a :54.3 half and cruised up the backside while Lyin’ Eyes (Joey Putnam) marched uncovered from last to challenge the leader for the front. Lyin’ Eyes loomed into contention with Jada Caroline through three-quarters in 1:22.4 but lost ground off the final turn while Jada Caroline held firm on the helm to win by three-quarter lengths at the beam. Yankee B Something swung off a pocket ride to take second from Lyin’ Eyes in third while JK’s Shining Star (Marvin Luna) took fourth. Erv Miller trains Jada Caroline, a 4-year-old mare by Tellitlikeitis , for owners Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Louis Willinger and Never 2 Late Stable. She won her third race from seven starts this season and her ninth race from 37 starts in her career, good for $385,767 in earnings. She returned $5.10 to win. Trainer Erv Miller, the reigning leading trainer at Oak Grove, recorded a hat trick on the Monday card. Aside from his victory with Jada Caroline, he found the winner’s circle in the first race on the day with Fox Valley Jasmine (Marcus Miller, 1:53 winning mile; $6.72 to win) and won in the penultimate race on the card in a 13-length romp with Number Cruncher (Marcus Miller, 1:50.2; $2.84). Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (July 1) with a 14-race card headlined by the $40,000 Open Trot in Race 2. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:25 p.m. For free past performances and more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com .
June 23, 2025
The dynamite team of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras landed a natural hat trick early in the 15-race session of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) action at Oak Grove on Monday (June 23) while Gingras added an additional visit to the winner’s circle later in the day to lead all drivers with four wins on the card. Eternal Blush (Yannick Gingras) kicked off the hat trick for team Burke with a 1:57 stroll in the first of two KYSS divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies, returning $3.22 to win as the 3-5 favorite. Gingras collected his fourth win of the day around the mid-point of the card when Spicy Nice ($3.02 to win) found the winner’s circle from a first-over grind to win in 1:54.2. Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 24) at an earlier first post of 9 a.m., to avoid the extreme temperatures from the heat advisory later in the day. Tuesday’s card features KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, 3-year-old pacing fillies as well as the four $150,000 finals of KYSS for 4-year-olds. The race card scheduled for Wednesday (June 25) also has an earlier post time of 11:25 a.m., in anticipation of extreme temperatures and to accommodate the Lasix schedule. For free past performances and more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com .
June 23, 2025
Zephyr Kemp (Dexter Dunn) registered the top mile of the day for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings towards the tail of the card when winning the last of the three splits for his division with a 1:56.2 performance. Dunn put the Marcus Melander pupil on the point and held firmly in the stretch to win pulling away by 2-3/4 lengths over Lethal Legacy, who sat a pocket trip, in second. The son of Calgary Games, returning $3.38 to win, competes for owners Kemppi Stables Oy Inc., Suojalampi Stable I(June 24)nc., PCW Racing LLC and Sjoblom Racing Inc. Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 24) at an earlier first post of 9 a.m., to avoid the extreme temperatures from the heat advisory later in the day. Tuesday’s card features KYSS divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, 3-year-old pacing fillies as well as the four $150,000 finals of KYSS for 4-year-olds. The race card scheduled for Wednesday (June 25) also has an earlier post time of 11:25 a.m., in anticipation of extreme temperatures and to accommodate the Lasix schedule. For free past performances and more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com .
June 20, 2025
The New York Sire Stakes circuit was at MGM Yonkers Raceway for the first time in 2025 on Thursday (June 19) with the first leg of action for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Casper The Ghost (Ray Schnittker) cut the quarter in :28.3 in the other $77,300 flight and then yielded to a pocket-popping Ideal Rebel (Tyler Buter) beyond that marker. Ideal Rebel would go on to hit the half in :58.3 but Fragment (Bartlett) attacked first-over out of third after the half and went by Ideal Rebel to take command after three-quarters went on the board in 1:26.4. It was all Fragment to the finish as he scored by four lengths in 1:55.1 with Hunt Off The Press (Scott Zeron) up for second and Casper The Ghost third. During the race, a two-horse accident occurred near three-quarters as Unmatched Wisdom (Jordan Stratton) fell and Knoxville (Mark MacDonald), who was following his cover, couldn’t avoid him. Both horses got up and returned to the paddock. Jordan Stratton was able to continue driving on the card but Mark MacDonald booked off the remainder of his drives. Per Engblom trains Fragment, a colt by Huntsville and out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare The Show Returns, for owners Engblom Stable LLC and Douglas Sipple. Fragment, bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, Michael Robinson and South Mountain Stables, won at first asking and returned $3.80 to win as the favorite. He keyed a $9 exacta and a $35.80 trifecta. 
June 7, 2025
East Rutherford, NJ – One week ago, Ari Ferrari J had no chance to catch Lexus Kody in the weekly feature at The Meadowlands, lacking room until very late after sitting a pocket trip. This time around, driver Brett Beckwith left nothing to chance, putting the Tony Alagna trainee on the lead down the backstretch and lasting to the wire in the marquee event on the Friday night (June 6) program, a $27,500 Open Handicap for trotters. “I kind of just wanted to let him do his own thing,” said Beckwith, who sits atop the driver standings at The Big M with 83 wins. “I thought that was the way the trip would go.” Southwind Coors, Sir Pinocchio, Ari Ferrari J and Outside The Fire were all in the first-turn scrum in the seven-horse field (likely favorite Periculum scratched) with Sir Pinocchio on the lead at the quarter while parked in :27.1. Beckwith and Ari Ferrari J kept digging on the outside, and did not make the top until shortly before reaching the half in :55. Ari Ferrari J hit three-quarters in 1:23.1, and despite late rallies from Sir Pinocchio (who finished second) and Southwind Coors (third), held on to the wire for a safe 1½-length score in a lifetime-best 1:50.1. Owned by Ken Jacobs, Ari Ferrari J, a 5-year-old son of Walner -Dream Child, returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite. He now has 14 wins from 48 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $1,147,662.
June 7, 2025
Lite Up The World rolls into next week's prestigious $1 million Pepsi North America Cup (Grade 1) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in top-tier form after winning their respective $50,000 eliminations on Saturday, June 7. If Saturday night's performances are any indication of what’s to come on June 14, the 42nd edition of the premier event for three-year-old pacers is shaping up to be a classic. Lite Up The World, still sitting eighth straightening for the stretch drive, then began to meticulously pick off his rivals one-by-one en route to a 2-1/2-length score in a career-best 1:48.3, punctuated by a final quarter in :26. Crack Shot dug in to finish second, while a game Madden Oaks hung on for third. Fallout was fourth. “Last week, I thought I had a great horse and I was just trying to do too much and put him in a bad spot and didn't get the job done,” said MacDonald, of a runner-up finish in an $81,500 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division. “And then tonight, it was such a competitive elim. “I thought there were five, six or seven horses that could win it, so I was trying to just float and come with cover and hopefully they mixed it up. And I floated, but they were all leaving. There was nowhere for me to go and I had to take back. I knew once he got rolling, he went by one and he just took off. So, it was a good feeling." Lite Up The World lit up the toteboard as he paid $18.30 for the mild upset. 
June 7, 2025
Hunterton born Galen Erso scored a pillar-to-post 1:53 lifetime-best win in the first $30,000 Goodtimes elimination for three-year-old trotters at Woodbine Mohawk June 7. Driver Doug McNair plugged out of post three with Galen Erso to seize the lead to a :27.2 first quarter and cooled on the engine up the backstretch to a :57 half. As half the field tipped off the pylons to the final turn, McNair slammed the pedal to clock three-quarters in 1:24.4 and braved the swarming herd late to hold onto the win by a length. Landing On Time (James MacDonald), the 3-5 favourite, kicked home from third-over for second while LMC Wagon Wheel (Tyler Borth) blasted from near last for third. P L Spencer (Bob McClure) and Gap Kronos S (Ake Svanstedt) took the remaining berths, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. “He was a little aggressive getting out of there – this was the first time he’s had the closed bridle on him this year," said McNair of the SBOA Stakes winner. "I figured one of the favourites, either Ake [driving Gap Kronos S] or James [driving Landing On Time], would’ve covered him up but they left him alone. I let him buzz the third quarter and he did the rest from there.” McNair's father Gregg trains Galen Erso, a colt by Green Manalishi S out of Wygant Princess, for owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. Galen Erso, now two-for-four this year, collected his fifth win from 11 career starts and has now banked $291,604 in earnings. He returned $61.60 to win.
June 6, 2025
Trainer Noel Daley's Hunterton sold Onajetplane (Walner-Noble Lover) won his sophomore debut in a lifetime-best 1:52.1 by more than four lengths, paying $9.40 as the 7-2 third choice. Andy McCarthy was the winning driver. Daley shares ownership of last season's New Jersey Classic champion with Sjoblom Racing Inc., L A Express Stable and Joonas Jarvinen. at The Meadowlands, Friday night, June 6.
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