Oak Grove, KY — Driver Devon Tharps kept Ron Burke pupil High Flyin’ Filly flat off the wings of the gate and found a perch second-over off fast fractions to pounce and crush at odds of 21-1 in the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday afternoon (June 9).
Leaving from the pylon post, Tharps settled into fifth while 5-2 favorite Dandy’s Mercy (driven by Marcus Miller) pushed through a skirmish for the front to take the lead after a :26.1 first quarter. Pressure Cooker (Marvin Luna), who tried to push but took back for a seat in fourth, flushed back off the pylons as Tharps made a move off the pegs with High Flyin’ Filly moving to a :54.1 half.
Dandy’s Mercy coasted up the backstretch as Pressure Cooker floundered on the rim while High Flyin’ Filly waited to make her move until just after three-quarters in 1:22, where Anna Love N (Trace Tetrick) from third-over and Lyin’ Eyes (Joey Putnam) from fourth-over also began their closing attacks. High Flyin’ Filly swooped forward and got the jump in the lane to stave off Lyin’ Eyes by 1-3/4 lengths in a 1:50.3 with Anna Love N grabbing third. Millwood Bliss N (Peter Wrenn) emerged from a ground-saving trip for fourth.
A 5-year-old mare by Domethatagain, High Flyin’ Filly has now banked $395,137 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She won her 25th race from 86 starts and returned $45.78 to win in her upset.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 10) with a 13-race card headlined by a $20,000 Open 2 Trot in Race 11. 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.