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JD’s King James put a slam dunk on the $11,000 conditioned pace field Tuesday, June 9 at Oak Grove. He ruled the entire tempo to score the win in the petite field of six with Marcus Miller in the bike.

 

Starting from post one, JD’s King James used that spot to his advantage and shot out to the lead from the gate. Fox Valley Compass put up a little of a challenge early before dropping back in the two hole for Archie Buford with Indiana sired Virgin Storm and Jamaal Denson following in third. Around the first turn, Fox Valley Compass was rough gaited and Buford started to pull him to the outside and make a challenge again but dropped back in behind JD’s King James before the quarter in :26.4.

 

As the field came by the grandstand for the first time, Tickled to Tears and Atlee Bender began their journey forward on the outside, pressing the pace last the half in :54.3. The two top horses continued to battle their way to the three-quarters in 1:22.2 with Fox Valley Compass biding his time tucked in behind.

 

Around the final turn, Track Announcer Peter Kleinhans noted there were four horses bunched together and it was anyone’s race. JD’s King James showed so slower foot on the inside with Tickled to Tears getting a slight advantage in the early stretch. But JD’s King James fought back and took back over. His white bridle and white back stockings were in full view at the wire for the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2. Tickled to Tears finished second over Virgin Storm, who held his ground for third.

 

JD’s King James paid $4.70 for the win. The five-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis is owned by Lori Scholl and trained by Gary Campbell. Jacob Miller bred and raised the gelding, who earned his 11th straight win. He now has more than $175,000 in earnings with his career best time of 1:51.2 taken as a three-year-old at Dayton Raceway. He is a recent acquisition by Scholl.

 

The Tuesday card at Oak Grove was closed out by Indiana sired Mister Hercules and Marcus Miller in the $13,000 conditioned claimer. After Just Chasing Tails and Geremy Bobbitt set the first quarter in :26.3, Mister Hercules was out and moving , picking up cover behind Star man and Brandon Bates. That cover brought him all the way to the stretch.

 

Once in the stretch, Mister Hercules moved out and went to work, powering by all his opponents for the win by two and one-half lengths in 1:53.4. Lakeside Tammy, also an Indiana sired product of Odds on Equuleus finished second for Joey Putnam with Star Man finishing third.

 

Mister Hercules paid $3.84 for the win. The five-year-old stallion is by Let’s Drink on It and is owned by Chad Bell of Mississippi. Terry Skinner trains the product of Alvin Schwartz’s breeding operation in Berne, Ind.

 

Mister Hercules picked up his second win of 2026 and his 12th overall. The one-time ISFC contender has more than $59,000 on his card with his career best earned in his Tuesday win. He has been owned by Bell his entire career, purchased out of the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale. He is a half sister to six figure winners Feelnlikearockstar and Vel Donna, and full sister to Lets Flip Onit, also a six figure earner.

 

 

 


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Photo of Lyin' Eyes and Joey Putnam by Dean Gillette Lyin’ Eyes and Joey Putnam were the only ones to dip below the 1:50 time barrier Saturday, August 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The duo scored the win in the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, earning a new lifetime mark in the process. Lyin’ Eyes began from post one and used that to her advantage when the gate opened for the race. She had just enough early speed to slide in behind Yankee B Something and Geremy Bobbitt, who passed by the quarter in :26.2. Lyin’ Eyes out and moving to the front, settling in before the half in :54.4. This spurred an outer flow to form led by Adashious Hanover and Trace Tetrick. At the head of the lane, Lyin’ Eyes was battling with Adashious Hanover on the outside with Yankee B Something had room to move up the inside. But Lyin’ Eyes kept on task, rallying all the way to the wire for the win in 1:49.4, a final quarter paced in :26.4. Reason to Shine A and LeWayne Miller closed in for second over Naked on a Hill and Brandon Bates for third. Lyin’ Eyes paid $9.40 for the win. The five-year-old daughter of Odds on Equuleus is owned by JP Racing, Joey Putnam, and Crazy Parrot Farm. Joe Putnam handles the training of the mare who originated from Silver Linden Farms. Lyin’ Eyes earned her second win of 2026 and her 11 th overall. She increased her career bankroll to more than $526,000 with the win. She has spent her entire career with the Putnam barn, a $21,000 purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Her second dam is a big producer, including Martini Hanover (1:49.0, $487,000). Lyin’ Eyes dam, Miswave Hanover, is a 100 percent producer with three winners from three foals of racing age, including three-year-old Change of Order (1:53.0, $39,000) and Table for Four (1:54.0, $23,000). The night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park was filled with all types of activities, including the second annual Lowrider 500 featuring Weiner Dog racing. Fans surrounded the front paddock as preliminary rounds were held to determine the final field for the main event on the racetrack. Skinny Lenny was the overall winner followed by Archie and Ellie. The Saturday card also included not one but two dead-heats on the night. Wild Rosa (Brandon Bates) and Prtynproud Hanover (Trace Tetrick) hit the wire together in the $12,000 conditioned pace in 1:50.3. A few races later, Woodmere Harriet (Todd Warren) and Schnapps (Anthony Miller) also could not be separated at the wire for the dead heat win in 1:54.0 in the conditioned pace.
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