Isitlikeitlooks made everyone look Tuesday, May 9 at Oak Grove Racing. Guided by Joey Putnam, the Indiana sired gelding nearly took the field of top pacers wire to wire in the win.
Driver Joey Putnam leads Isitlikeitlooks into the winner’s circle at Oak Grove Tuesday, May 9 following their win in the afternoon’s featured Open Pace.
The announcers noted Isitlikeitlooks went up to the gate as a 9-1 longshot, but as late money rolled in, he was bet down to 4-1, noting he was probably the best payout of the meet to date. The entire field of six lined up behind the gate and all six left for the lead. Schwartz Bros Pat used his inside post to get good positioning with American Dreamer and Devon Tharps moving onto the lead in the first turn followed closely by Isitlikeitlooks, who cleared to the front after the quarter in :26.4. From there Isitlikeitlooks looked comfortable on the lead, passing the half in :55.2 but Putnam knew the ones in the rear of the race were already making their plan of attack.
True Blue Lindy and Todd McCarthy led the charge first up on the outside to the three-quarters in 1:23.4. At that point, they were three in and three out with Isitlikeitlooks still leading the way.
In the stretch, True Blue Lindy was bearing down on Isitlikeitlooks and at one time, appeared to get a quick lead, but Isitlikeitlooks fought back, getting the win by three-quarters of a length at the finish line in 1:51.2. True Blue Lindy finished second over American Dreamer for third. Schwartz Bros Pat, also an Indiana sired starter, finished fourth.
Isitlikeitlooks paid $10.40 for the win. The seven-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding is owned by JP Racing LLC and Joey Putnam. Joe Putnam trains the veteran pacer, who earned his third win in his seventh start of the year in the effort. It was also just one tick off his career best time.
To date, Isitlikeitlooks now has 42 career wins in 141 starts with more than $263,000 on his card. As a two-year-old, he won eight of 10 outings, including his first five on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. He was also a winner in the $20,000 ISFC Final, which is now known as the Governor’s Cup. He is from a very productive family with all seven of the foals out of Miss Liz taking records. Joining Isitlikeitlooks as standouts includes Angels Rockn Pink (1:52.1, $229,000) and Gentle Giant (1:50.1, $241,000) who is still racing.
Another impressive winner on the card was Skyway Goliath from the Shawn Nessa Stable. The three-year-old son of JK Endofanera sat patiently in the two hole of his $10,000 maiden event with Randy Crisler in the bike before popping out and rallying home in :28.3, winning by one-half length over Lindy the Brave and Todd McCarthy. Sweet Jewel and Adarryl Gates finished third.
Skyway Goliath was a surprise, paying $11.66 for the win. He is owned by Earnest Sork, Nori Nessa and Shawn Nessa. It was his fourth career start, all at Oak Grove this spring.