Oak Grove, KY — Despite a soft front half, It’s A Herbie came charging down the center of the track to grab the lead in the closing strides and snag the winner’s share of the $26,000 purse in the Open Trot at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday afternoon (June 5).

It’s A Herbie won by a half-length in a 1:53.4 mile. Mark Herron photo.

Sweet Mr Pinetucky (Atlee Bender) bolted for the lead from post five while It’s A Herbie (Verlin Yoder) took back to race fourth in the quintet. Sweet Mr Pinetucky carved a sensible clip of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.1 as the heat began building into the final quarter.

It’s A Herbie started his charge around Perlucky (John MacDonald) while Stride The Hill (Kevin Wallis) awaited clearance from the pocket ride moving into the stretch, where the field clumped. Stride The Hill found a seam to the inside but It’s A Herbie had the momentum and collared the pocket-pouncer by a half-length in a 1:53.4 mile. Heath Bar (Matt Krueger) closed from last for third and Sweet Mr Pinetucky held fourth.

Verlin Yoder owns It’s A Herbie, a 7-year-old gelding by Here Comes Herbie who won his 22nd race from 73 starts and has now earned $611,477. He paid $4.16 to win.

The co-featured $18,000 Open 2 Trot went postward earlier in the card and saw Bluebird Deacon (Bender) power home to a 1:54.4 win as the even-money favorite.

Bender took back with the Erv Miller trainee to race third through a :27.4 first quarter and waited to make his attack while Pilgrims Image (Krueger) strolled through middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3. Bender gave Bluebird Deacon his cue around the final turn and the 6-year-old Swan For All gelding came charging strongly to claim victory in his seasonal bow by three-quarters of a length. Yo Lucky Moni (Yoder) took third and Just For Us (Carson Conrad) was fourth.

Bluebird Deacon has now won 12 races from 66 starts and banked $241,820. Hannah Bender owns the gelding who paid $4 to win.

The win was one of three on the card for conditioner Erv Miller, who also won with Fox Valley Leah (1:52.4; $18.42) and Bay City (1:50.2; $3.14).

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Sunday (June 11) since the race card scheduled for Tuesday (June 6) was cancelled and postponed to the end of the meet on Monday (July 10). First-race post time at Oak Grove is 3 p.m. (CDT).