Red Hot Herbie, with Sam Widger at the lines, shattered a 12-year-old track record for three-year-old trotting geldings when he powered home a winner in 1:55 at Hoosier Park on Wednesday evening.
The previous record was established by Major Digby and Dan Shetler in 2001 and then equalled in 2003 by Big Boy Josh and Charlie Conrad.
Red Hot Herbie notched his second consecutive win at Hoosier Park and third victory of the season, in a lifetime best effort. The 1:55 victory marked the fourth track record that has been lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval in 2013.
Red Hot Herbie made every call a winning one as he stormed to the front from post five through a brisk opening panel in :26.3. Charming Dream and Ed Hensley left just enough to protect their rail position and followed intently in second. Emmers and Lewayne Miller were next in third as the heavy betting favourite, Jesse Lane, was placed off the pace in eighth. Red Hot Herbie seemed to relax on the front as he led the field of ten through the half mile time in :57.4. Longwell and Dan Shetler were the first to take aim at the leader as the field approached the final turn through the three-quarter mark in 1:27.2.
Just as the field turned for home, Red Hot Herbie began to put his talent on display and trot away from the rest of the field. With a :27.3 final panel, Red Hot Herbie crossed the wire well in hand and was four lengths in front of his closest competitor. Longwell trotted evenly to finished second as Charming Dream took advantage of his pocket trip to round out the trifecta. As the public’s third choice, Red Hot Herbie returned $7.40 to his backers for the win.
“This horse can leave the gate about as fast as any trotter I’ve sat behind,” Widger noted. “He’s a little hot-headed but he will relax if he can get away from them and he did that tonight. He’s flawlessly gaited and he came back to me when I asked him to down the backside. If he will relax and let you spread the speed out, he is a tough horse to beat.”
Trained by Byron Hooley, Red Hot Herbie notched his fifth win from 20 lifetime outings while bankrolling over $40,000 for his connections of Summit Pacing Acres of Fort Wayne, IN. Sired by Here Comes Herbie, the three-year-old gelding has now won three of six starts this season. It was the second win of the night for trainer Byron Hooley who also scored with Flower Girl Charis in the third round of the Indiana Silver Sire Stakes action.
The twelve-year-old record for three-year-old geldings on the trot was originally established by Major Digby and driver, trainer Dan Shetler on August 12, 2001. That same record was equaled two years later by Big Boy Josh and driver, trainer Charlie Conrad on May 18, 2003.
Live racing resumes at Hoosier Park on Thursday, June 20 with three divisions of the Indiana Silver Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts highlighting the 13-race card.
(Hoosier Park)