For the fourth time in one week, the track record was lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval marking the 22nd track record that has been re-established throughout the 2013 racing season.
Sweet Justice, with Tyler Smith at the lines, became Hoosier Park’s newest track record holder when he powered home a winner in 1:54.1 in Thursday’s featured event - a $22,500 event for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Sweet Justice was able to use a determined rally late in the lane to defeat a field of nine and score his third win of the season. The previous track record of 1:54.2 was established by Red Hot Herbie and Andy Shetler just one week earlier in the same event.
Leaving from post five, Sweet Justice left the gate alertly to grab a position along the rail in third. JJ Rock reached the front through the opening panel in :27.1 but yielded the lead to Red Hot Herbie down the backside. Red Hot Herbie dictated fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.4 and braced for the stretch drive. Using a :28.4 last quarter, Sweet Justice was able to track down the leader and win by three-quarters of a length. Red Hot Herbie finished second while Super Rock trotted evenly to finish third. Dismissed at the windows, Sweet Justice returned $28.40 at the windows.
Sired by Justice Hall, the sophomore colt has now won 3 of 17 seasonal outings while bankrolling over $60,000 for his connections of Our Little Stable, S.M. Carter, and R. A. Mondillo. Trained by Steve Carter, Sweet Justice has won 11 of 27 starts while amassing over $170,000 throughout his career.
(Hoosier Park)