by Jim Whittemore, publicity director, Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — William Carter’s three driving wins on Sunday night, June 22, gives him the early lead with seven victories in the current summer meet at Ocean Downs.

The 36-year-old driver/trainer had the lines for a pair of 11-year-old veteran horses, which posted wins on the fourth night of racing in the 40-night meet.

Rainpan, also trained by Carter, went off as the 4-5 favorite, winning for the first time in two years despite having 27 career wins in 183 starts before Sunday.

“I had him for a few years. He’s just an old veteran. Once he’s up in contention, he’s able to go,” Carter said of Rainpan, who pulled ahead at the top of the stretch for the win ($3.80).

Night’s Winemaker, trained by Joseph Eisenhower, notched his 35th career win with a strong pace of 1:57.3 ($15.40). The seasoned gelding had struggled with only three wins last year, but now has his second straight victory at Ocean Downs with Carter in the bike.

“We just clicked,” Carter explained. “They raced him at Freehold where he was no good, but he liked the Ocean Downs surface. It must be the air down here he enjoys.”

Carter also clicked with 4-year-old mare Attitune, who won her maiden start (2:00.3), making a believer of her supporters with a photo-finish win after a stretch run battle with 7-5 favorite The Bags Are Sealed. A $2 win ticket returned $42.20 and the 7-3-8 trifecta brought a $2,801.40 payout.

“I kind of trained her all winter,” Carter said. “I gave her back to the people (trainer Duane Rust and owner Cheryl Swaim). She’s probably one of the fastest horses I sat on, but the problem is she’s a Tune Town and Tune Towns are kind of nasty. It’s the Tune Town breeding, but if they get her straight and controllable, the sky’s the limit with her.”

Driver Wayne Long produced his fifth win of the meet with a final race victory behind 8-year-old gelding FOB Watch N, trained by Ross Claridge ($18.00, 1:58.2). Long had four winners on Sunday, June 15, in his only other appearance at the Ocean Oval this year.

Ray Robinson, Jr. also has five driving wins this summer, producing a pair of wins Sunday. Ring Of Honour N, a 9-year-old gelding trained by Charlene Polk, got off to a fast start as the 2-5 favorite and won for the second time this year ($2.80). “Shorty” also prompted a strong final turn burst to win with 6-year-old Shesanameripangirl, trained by his wife Carolyn ($7.00).

After four nights of racing, William Carter and Joseph Eisenhower, Sr. lead in the trainer’s standings with three wins each. Charlene Polk and William Long each have two.

The summer schedule of live racing four nights each week, through the closing night of August 24, is now in effect. First post is 7:35 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Parking and admission are free at the Ocean Oval. For more information, call the track at (410) 641-0600.