Oak Grove, KY – Mother’s Day was a special day for O’Darius (OD) Johnson as the 20-year-old scored his first pari-mutuel win in the United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) feature at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on Sunday (May 10).
Johnson, a Meridian, Miss., native now residing in Forest, Miss., accomplished his milestone win with the 4-year-old mare Wildcat Abby, hitting the wire in 1:54.2.
The winning margin was 1 length over the stout closing Real Amie, handled by Danarius Dortch, with the pacesetting Rainbow Design, driven by Peter Kleinhans, next.
Mistertenahkey, outside the entire route, finished fourth under the guidance of Jalen Gray, with So I Likeit Dirty, picking up the nickel for Jawaunya Nash.
Kleinhans zipped off the wings with Rainbow Design and that one clicked off colorful fractions of :27 and :55 with Wildcat Abby in the garden spot and Dontinvitemein, driven by Donricus Blackmon, hung out to dry like wet laundry.
On the backside three-eighths from home, the patience of Johnson began to pay dividends as he zipped out of the cozy pocket to take charge past the third station in 1:25.1 before coasting home the comfortable winner.
After the event, Johnson said, “Wow! The winner’s circle … what a great place to be.
“This was a great trip for the mare as we were forced to be patient throughout with those quick early fractions.
“I knew she’d be good coming in because she won her last start in her best ever (1:52.2) and Mr. Trigg (trainer Roshun Trigg) had the confidence in me to get it done here with the inside post.
“I didn’t think that the horse outside of me was going to stick around after a :55 half and when that one backed out of it, that gave me the chance to go to the outside and that was that!
“My family and friends were the ones that encouraged me along the way — my mom, Arnita, and dad, Lee, always encouraged me along and guys like John Hughes, Jalen Gray and Zyler Maxwell, too.
“Mr. Hughes taught me so much and Jalen and Zyler, well; we used to race horses over the dirt roads.
“They are like brothers to me!”
Wildcat Abby is trained by Trigg for owner Timothy Williams and returned $2.88 as the 2-5 favorite.
The win was the third in eight starts this year for Wildcat Abby and vaulted her lifetime earnings to $188,097.
The USHDC is in its 30th season of making charitable contributions to worthy 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting community, county and national interests, made possible by the generosity of its members that donate 100% of their driver earnings in these races to their causes.