Js Tango and Mike Peterson turned in a strong performance to take a division of the $15,000 Abercrombie Series Friday, July 8 at Hoosier Park
. The duo covered the one-mile distance in a time of 1:55.4.
Peterson had Js Tango ready to race as the Todd Nixon starting gate closed its wings. Js Tango slid right in behind Thiswayorthehighwy and Dave Magee, enjoying a two-hole trip through the first quarter in :28.
Js Tango then was out and moving, securing the top spot before the halfway marker in a time of :59. SD Flight Plan and driver Roger Cullipher also moved to the outside and came up to the outside of Js Tango to apply pressure around the final turn, but never could get the edge on him.
At the three-quarter mile marker, Js Tango moved his gear up a notch and paced home in :27.2, winning the race by one length in a time of 1:55.4. Fridaynightflight and Peter Wrenn finished second over T R Kilowatt Sam and Ricky Macomber for third.
“This is a nice little colt,” said Peterson. “He started racing at the fairs before coming into this series, which helped. He’s good gaited and has shown he can go some. With so many divisions of this series, it’s all about who you catch. It will be fun to see how all of these colts match up next week in the final.”
Js Tango is now three-for-five in his brief racing career. The two-year-old son of I Scoot Hanover now has more than $12,500 in career earnings for trainer Jack Myers, who co-owns the colt with his wife, Sue Ann. The Bristol, Indiana couple also enjoyed wins from Js Tango at the Miami County Fair and the Shelby County Fair prior to finishing third in the first round of the Abercrombie.
In another division of the Abercrombie, Mykindachip and Dan Shetler was a dominant winner by nearly three lengths in a time of 1:55.3. Trained by Dan Bowermaster, Mykindachip stayed close early on and later found room to rally home for his first career win in only his second career start. Owned by Bowermaster and his son, Shane, Mykindachip finished second in the first round of the Abercrombie. The representative of the first crop of Arts Chip will advance to next week’s $30,000 final set for Friday, July 15.
Other divisional winners in the Abercrombie Series included Goose On The Rocks and Macomber and the undefeated star Next Flight In, who earned his third straight win in a time of 1:54.3. The Panspacificflight colt lowered his career best time once again for leading driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Erv Miller to advance into the final with the quickest time of the Indiana-sired freshman.
The 2011 standardbred meet will come to a close Saturday, July 16 with Hoosier Champions, featuring Indiana Sires Stakes finals and purses in excess of $1.2 million. The evening will also be tied into the national harness racing promotion “Back To The Track.” A special drawing for a trip for two to the 2011 Little Brown Jug will be conducted along with several giveaways by the Indiana Standardbred Association. First post for the evening is 5:30 p.m. EST.
To help complement Hoosier Champions, a special appearance by Matt Howard will take place. Howard, a standout on the Butler Bulldog basketball team, will sign autographs from 6 – 8 p.m. Also, a special “I Win You Win” contest will take place for the Celebrity Standardbred drivers. Entries into the contest will be $2 and all proceeds go to the United Way of Madison County. Cash prizes will be available in the contest each time a member of the Celebrity Standardbred drivers win a race.
(Hoosier Park)