It's as easy as ABC Mercedes

ABC Mercedes and Joe Putnam were untouchable in the week’s top trot. The duo rallied down the stretch to take advantage of a recent purse increase and claim the lion’s share of the $25,000 purse in the Invitational Trot.

Starting from post six, Putnam looked over to see what others in the race had planned at the starting gate before selecting a spot for ABC Mercedes. Once NF Soaring and Rick Farrington had reached the quarter-mile marker in a time of :27.4, Putnam rolled ABC Mercedes right to the front spot and established the remaining fractions of :56.3 and 1:26.0.

“I wanted to see what was going to happen before we left the gate,” said Putnam, who has more than 2,700 career wins. “There was some speed inside of us, but there were no huge fractions early, so I floated him (ABC Mercedes) to the front. He’s very professional once he gets to the front. He gets relaxed at that point.”


In the stretch, one tap of the whip was all it took to alert ABC Mercedes it was time to kick into gear. The five-year-old son of ABC Garland stretched out his stride and trotted home in :28 seconds to win by three and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. He is now five for seven in 2010. Speed N The Tunnel and Sam Widger closed well to finish second. NF Soaring for third.

“Last week, we started from the nine hole and didn’t get a very good trip,” said Putnam. “This was a little shorter field tonight, which helped and was a little bit of relief for us.”

Owned by Larry Miller of Springport, Ind., ABC Mercedes is nearing $525,000 in career earnings. With 33 wins in 48 career starts, he has proven to be a consistent performer for Miller and Putnam, who have raced him through his entire campaign.

“He’s really an easy keeper, so to speak, his entire career,” said Putnam. “If he’s racing every week, he is out in the field every day and only comes into jog. If he gets a week or two off, then we train him in between races but he still sees a lot of time in the paddock. He stays sharp when he’s racing. He has a great attitude and a great will to win.”

ABC Mercedes is getting one step closer to the first and only preliminary leg for the upcoming Indiana Sires Stakes final for older trotting stallions and geldings. The $20,000 preliminary round is set for Saturday, July 3. The top finishers in the event will return Saturday, July 10 for Hoosier Champions Night, in which purses will exceed the $1 million mark.

Another horse eyeing the finals will be Indiana-sired Robin I Scoot, winner of the $25,000 Invitational Pace in the 10th race. Trained by Dan Perdue, Robin I Scoot easily defeated his foes in the event to score his fifth race in 10 starts this year. He is owned by Shady Lane Farm of Grabill, Ind. Trace Tetrick drives Robin I Scoot. (Hoosier)