Oak Grove, KY — Oak Grove Racing and Gaming was host to a pair of United States Harness Driving Club events on Monday (April 15) with Cassidy Whitton and Peter Kleinhans recording wins in their respective events.

Shes A Fireball and Cassidy Whitton stopped the clock in 1:54.4. Mark Herron photo.

Whitton kicked off the festivities by scoring a near gate-to-wire win with the 7-year-old mare Shes A Fireball (Western Maverick), stopping the clock in 1:54.4. It took a brave :29 finale to hold Lou’s Delight, handled by Tony Dinges, safe at the wire by a neck while the 9-10 favorite, Topville Rocknluck, finished third for Tim Wilson Jr. after a mild challenge turning for home.

It was pretty much “cut and dry” after the first few strides with the winner carving out a panel of :28 in securing the early lead and a well rated :58 half with only one minor threat developing three lengths away. A :27.4 third panel thwarted any serious threats and the :29 finale on home sealed the deal with the win being number four in just nine season’s starts for Shes A Fireball, good for $18,220 in bounty so far this semester and $262,251 lifetime.

Whitton also trains the mare for owners Pat Melloy Jr. and Lisa Gosselin with winning pari-mutuel ticket holders getting a $16.94 dividend for their $2 investment. Whitton now has 93 career driving wins and 118 training successes.

Peter Kleinhans guided Snap Call to his third win in 12 starts this year. Mark Herron photo.

The veteran amateur driver Kleinhans guided the 6-year-old gelding Snap Call (Shadow Play) to his third win in 12 starts this year, scoring handily by 8-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1, highlighted by a :28.2 sprint home off fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4. Left in the winner’s wake was Rockin M, handled by Jacob Stillwell, who rallied from dead-last early to finish second. Southwind Molly, piloted by Carson Conrad, was next.

Snap Call was alert leaving form his inside post but met company from Doc’s Papparazzi during the opening quarter. With Kleinhans on a front end mission with Snap Call, Doc’s Papparazzi was left hung out to dry like wet laundry with only a minimal challenge from the field after that.

Snap Call has career earnings of $97,991. Michael Meza trains for owner Ashlee Sluggett and returned $11.52 for the win ducat. The 23-year-old Meza, in his second year as a trainer, has complied an impressive 35 wins in just 136 starts.

USHDC has donated over $300,000 to worthy charitable causes since its inception with a focus on retired horse aftercare, training for second vocations as therapeutic horses, pleasure horses and show horses. Their donations have also made dreams come true for children through donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.