ER Kim and Bradley Ferguson took the $22,000 Open Trot by surprise Saturday, April 9 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The program, which began early to accommodate a concert by Dwight Yoakam later in the evening, featured several top class events with ER Kim winning the 11th race on the card.
ER Kim and Bradley Ferguson scored an upset win in the $22,000 Open Trot Saturday, April 9 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Several powerhouse trotters lined up behind the gate for the Open Trot with three leaving strongly for the lead at the start. ER Kim moved over to the inside and was last, 13 lengths off the leaders at the quarter in :26.2 and not even in the conversation as I Know My Chip and Tyler Smith took the lead on the outside from Cassius Lane and Michael Oosting. Heading to the half, ER Kim was the first to move to the outside and flushed Whata Swan and Trace Tetrick before the half in :56.1.
Around the final turn, ER Kim was getting a perfect trip but the front horses were not backing down. In the stretch, several horses had the opportunity to advance and overtake I Know My Chip and Ferguson put ER Kim in the center of the track and let her trot. She picked up speed and rallied home in :26.4 to score the win in 1:54.2 at odds of 23 -1. What Swan finished one length back in second followed by Burrow and Travis Seekman on the inside for third.
ER Kim paid $48.80 for the win. The six-year-old daughter of Encore Encore is owned by Eash Racing Stable and trained by Don Eash. The homebred mare is from the Eash’s foundation trotting mare Bewitching Karen, who is the granddam. She was a standout for the farm and earned nearly a quarter million during her racing career.
ER Kim is having a great year so far. She has three wins and two seconds in eight starts with nearly $40,000 in earnings made in 2022. Overall, she has 17 wins in 124 starts and more than $213,000 on her card. Her career best time was taken last year at fie in 1:53.1 for Eash.
ER Kim has a two-year-old half sister this year named ER Kelly by Dover Dan. She also has a yearling sister named ER Katrina, also by Dover Dan.
Earlier in the night, 2021 Older Pacing Mare of the Year Rockin Nola picked up a win in the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. Guided by Joey Putnam, the six-year-old mare by Rockin Image got in front in the final quarter and drew away for the win, posting a 1:51.1 mile. Grace Rocks and Michael Oosting finished two and one-half lengths back in second over Rose Run Vision and Ricky Macomber Jr. for third.
Rockin Nola is owned by JP Racing and Suttons Bay Racing. Joe Putnam trains the standout pacing mare, who is approaching $800,000 in career earnings. She has 34 wins and her best mark was taken last year at five in 1:48.4.