Oak Grove, KY…May 25, 2026…Oak Grove Racing and Gaming opened their 2026 season in a winning way—actually at address 777 Winning Way—as a healthy crowd attended the opening festivities.
Cassidy Whitton and White Belly race to victory (Tony Centonze Photo)
Not only were their three feature “Open” events on the 12 race card, the USHDC (United States Harness Driving Club) also kicked off their season with a pair of events, the first one belonging to White Belly, driven by trainer Cassidy Whitton, who co-owns with Pet Melloy, Jr. and the second annexed by Jk’s Shining Star, with Adarryl Gates, Jr. handling the lines for trainer Randy Crisler and owner Theri Hensley.
White Belly, a nine-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou, avoided the early skirmish leaving from post three, getting away sixth as Nimble Ned (Joseph Hershberger) engaged in battle with D A Wicked Shine (Dein Spriggs) and the double bubbled Other Peoples Beer (Od Johnson) through an opening fractions of :29.1 and :56.4 with April’s Big Guy saving ground on the inside.
It was shortly after that April’s Big Guy tilted to the outside with White Belly also out and going, sweeping to the top at the third station in 1:26.3.
From there, it was a :27.4 final panel to hit the wire in 1:54.2 with an eight-and-a-half advantage over D A Wicked Sharp and Always Virgil, handled by Adarryl Gates, Jr.
Cassidy Whitton and White Belly (Tony Centonze Photo)
April’s Big Guy was next with the favored Beach VIbes picking up the nickel for Peter Kleinhans.
In a post race interview, owner-trainer Cassidy Whitton lamented, “Yes, it’s great to be back at Oak Grove and it’s really wonderful that Race Secretary Mike Hollenbeck and Cara Collins give us the opportunity to participate in such an outstanding venue.
“White Belly is my favorite horse and he raced really great—even though he’d been off a month.
“This was a talented group in there and I really didn’t want to get in a war early on, especially after that sharp opening half.
“I found some live cover for a while on the backside and, maybe, three-eights out, tipped him and off he went—-:27.4 home, too!
This was the second straight win for the ultra-consistent White Belly, who now sports a 22-22-22 scorecard in 141 career starts, good for $234,198.
For Cassidy Whitton, who primarily competes on the training side of the ledger, it was her 109 career driving success to go along with 162 training wins.
Off as the second choice in the betting, White Belly paid $9.78 to win.
Adarryl Gates, Jr. was in the bike as Jk’s Shininh Star took top honors (Tony Centonze Photo)
Jk’s Shining Star, an eight-year-old daughter of Jk Endofanera, had the driving services of 25-year-old Adarryl Gates, Jr. and, after a sprint out of the gate from the inside post and a first panel in :28.1, allowed Thosesummernights, handled by Dein Spriggs, to claim the top spot shortly thereafter, reaching the half in :56.4 with Shakeanera third outside for Od Johnson and Dontinvitemein saving ground next for Peter Kleinhans with Little Bit Tough and Cassidy Whitton next.
Shortly after the half, Jk’s Shining Star brushed back to the front and put the issue away, opening daylight at the third station in 1:25.4 and coasting hime in :29.2 to score by five lengths in 1:55.1.
Little Bit Tuff rallied for second with Thosesummernights next.
Dontinvitemein and Shakanera completed the top quintet.
Gates was in the bike for trainer Randy Crisler and owner Their Hensley, with the win vaulting Jk’s Shining Star’s lifetime bounty to $354,512 on the strength of a 38-23-29 tally in 185 trips back of the gate.
(Tony Centonze Photo)
In a lightly raced campaign thus far, Gates earned his second win—27th lifetime—building on a 2025 season where his “batting average” was a lofty .360.
For Randy Crisler, it was career training win number 311 to go along with 694 lifetime driving wins.
After the race, driver Adarryl Gates, Jr. said, “Mr. Crisler really had her sharp going in and she really felt like she wanted to win.
It all worked out just great!”
Jk’s Shining Star rewarded his legion with a $3.40 mutuel.
Oak Grove Racing and Gaming races Mondays and Tuesdays through July 14 with one of their many feature events been the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby on May 16.
Daily pastime is 1:10 Central Time.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
By John Berry for the USHDC