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).

Orlando Blue A with Atlee Bender winning the $18,000 featured pace at Oak Grove. Mark Herron photo.

Leaving from post two, 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/).