Oak Grove, KY – Swing Dancing, superbly handled by Adarryl Gates Jr., led every step of the mile in winning the United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) feature at Oak Grove Racing & Gaming on Monday (May 25).
The 6-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance hit the wire with a half-length to spare in 1:53.2, pinning the defeat on Happierdaysrcomin, driven by Jawaunya Nash, with Real Amie and OD Johnson third, two lengths away.
Favored White Belly, with Cassidy Whitton handling the lines, was next, another nose back, while Crius N Rock picked up the nickel for Jalen Gray.
Drawing the inside post in the field of nine, Gates sent his charge away with alacrity, thwarting any thoughts of his foes “grabbing the racetrack,” as only Happierdaysrcomin, leaving from post five, left with any early intentions—that latter settling into the garden spot through a hot opener of :27, two lengths away.
Once on top, Gates gave Swing Dancing a :29.3 second panel breather, arriving at the half-mile marker in :56.3.
Entering the backside, Gates chirped at Swing Dancing and, with Happierdaysrcomin attempting to keep pace, used a :27.4 third panel to keep the daylight between that foe as the others just couldn’t keep up as Swing Dancing tripped the three-quarter timer in 1:24.2.
It was these two – Swing Dancing and Happierdaysrcomin – to the wire, with Swing Dancing prevailing with the fastest-closing Real Amie a sharp third.
After the race, Gates remarked, “I liked my chances going into the race, with the rail and everything, and Swing Dancing is such a pleasure to drive that it made the mile all the better.”
Trained by Marna Shehan for owner Amanda Stephens, Swing Dancing won for the second time this semester to vault his seasonal earnings to $21,960 and $142,302 lifetime.
The win, incidentally, left Shehan just two shy of a milestone 250 training wins.
The 25-year-old Gates won for the sixth time in 36 starts this year and is 18-for-82 in the win column over the past two seasons.
Swing Dancing returned $9.72 as the 7-2 second choice in the betting.
The United States Harness Driving Club (USHRC), having given three charitable contributions since the Oak Grove Racing & Gaming meeting got underway, has three more on tap honoring Redemption Ranch, Safe Harbor Sanctuary and Christian County 4-H Horse Club prior to the meet’s end.
The club has been in existence since 1997, making charitable contributions benefiting local, regional and national organizations.