American Girl, guided by Sam Widger, turned in a gutsy performance to take top honours in the co-featured event of the evening, a $21,000 Invitational Pace for fillies and mares, on Friday, May 15 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
Dismissed at odds of 11-1 at the betting windows, American Girl won an epic stretch battle to best her rivals with a final time of 1:53.1.
Leaving from post four, American Girl left aggressively for early position, but Shine N Shimmer and John Delong were one step quicker as they reached the front through the opening panel in :27.3. Miss Millie and Peter Wrenn protected their rail position to find a pocket seat with Just A Bee and Mike Micallef next in line, fourth.
American Girl continued her mission to the front and reached the top spot just past the second station in :56.3. Unable to find a spot along the rail, Trace Tetrick had the 1-5 favourite, Colors A Virgin, pointed to the front as the field approached the final turn.
Colors A Virgin reached the leader’s wheel through a three-quarter clocking in 1:25.1, but she would have her work cut out for her as American Girl looked strong on the front. The field was tightly packed turning for home and the stage was set for a cavalry charge to the wire.
With the taxing mile beginning to take its toll, Colors A Virgin began to retreat just as the rest of the field started to fan out across the track late in the lane. Widger asked his mount for more and American Girl responded with one final surge to hold off a hard-charging Montenegro and Jason Dillander. Shine N Shimmer rounded out the trifecta. American Girl returned $25.00 to her backers at the betting windows.
“She’s a special mare,” trainer Ernie Gaskin noted after the victory. “When everything is right with her, she’s as game as they come. I wasn’t exactly sure how the trip would work out tonight, but Sam [Widger] always takes care of her.”
American Girl notched her first victory of the season and 23rd win from 89 career starts while lifting her lifetime earnings to $541,948. The six-year-old daughter of Arts Chip-L Dees Lourdes is owned by Darla Gaskin and Stanley Rosenblatt.
Live harness racing will return to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, May 16 with a 14-race card that is set to begin at 5:15 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)