USHDC victory for Cassidy Whitton and White Belly

Oak Grove, KY…June 16, 2026…As the United States Harness Driving Club prepares for three important donations over the coming weeks, the show continued as Cassidy Whitton teamed up with White Belly and scored in the USHDC feature at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on Monday, June15.

WHITE BELLY REPLAY

The nine-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou powered by in the lane to score by a half length over Beach Player and driver Matthew Wilson in 1:54.1.

The pacesetter, Isitlikeittell, was another half length back in third for OD Johnson in a closely knit field while Rogers Image, prominent from the get-go as well, was fourth.

Dontinvitemein, far back early, closed fastest of all—:27.4—to pick up the nickel for Denarius Dortch.

There was action from the inside posts, middle of the pack and the far outside when there wings folded as Beach Flyer (post 1), Rogers Image (post 5) and Isitlikeittell (post 9) all went searching for superiority early with Isitlikeittell using a :27.4 opener to secure the top spot with Rogers Image landing in the garden spot with Beach Power next.

Approaching the halfway junction, Beach Player pulled from third and marched up to engage the leader with these two in a developing war in :57.

On the backside, the pace quickened during a :28 third panel with Rogers Image third and White Belly next, nearly five lengths off the lead.

Once they straightened away for the drive home, Beach Flyer finally squeaked by Isitlikeeittell but White Belly was using a :28.1 finale to get the nod near the wire.

In a post-race interview, Cassidy Whitton, who also trains and co-owns White Belly with her father, Pat Melloy, Jr., related, “You know, he (White Belly) fit the race pretty good and I know that they’s be going pretty good down the backside so I just pulled around the final turn and he started pickin’ ‘em up!

“He got there…and that was what mattered.

“I’ll tell you who went a big mile was that Beach Player. I didn’t realize just how game that one was today…a huge effort from Beach Player.

“But White Belly was very good…as I expected him to be!”

The win was the third in 13 starts for White Belly, sending his seasonal earnings to $23,630 and just a “nose” away from $250,000 lifetime—now at $247,078.

For Cassidy Whitton, it was her fourth win in 18 starts this semester and 112th career that began 20 seasons ago.

She has two seasons with a UDRS of over .600, three others over .500 and four others over .400.

She also has 167 career training successes and just went over the million dollar mark in that prestigious category last week.

The USHDC, now in its 30th season of charitable contributions, consists of a membership team that donates 100% of their earnings from driving to their charitable events with three more scheduled by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming’s meet ending in mid-July with beneficiaries including Safe Harbor Sanctuary, the Christian County 4-H Club and the Christian County Cattlemen’s Association.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for USHDC