Track records continue to fall at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino this season as the 14-race card on Saturday, July 13 was highlighted by two record-breaking performances.
For the third time in one week, the track record was lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval, marking the ninth track record that has been re-established this season. One division of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts was contested, but it was Bluehourpower, in a division of the Abercrombie Series, and Montenegro, in the featured fillies and mares pace, that stole the show.
After stopping the timer in 1:53.1, Bluehourpower and driver Jason Dillander started the record-setting trend, establishing a new track record for two-year-old pacing geldings in the second of four divisions of the the Abercrombie, a late-closing event open to two-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Trained and owned by Wilbur Eash, Bluehourpower shattered a record that stood for 11 years. The 1:54 mark was established by Northern J and driver Tim Curtain.
Leaving from post eight, Bluehourpower was unhurried out of the gate and settled along the rail in fifth through the opening fraction of :27.2. Dillander gave the son of Sand Shooter the green light down the backside and the duo cleared to the front through the half in :57.2. Bluehourpower led the field of freshman pacers to the three-quarters mark in 1:26.2 before feeling a threat on the outside by the heavily favoured Sailin Metro and LeWayne Miller. With a :26.4 final panel, Bluehourpower saved his best for last as he battled gamely to hold off Sailin Metro by three-quarters of a length. Bluehourpower notched his first win of the season from two lifetime starts.
The night’s final record came courtesy of Montenegro with a 1:50.2 romp in the $26,400 featured pace for fillies and mares. With Ed Hensley in the bike, Montenegro used a sharp, front-running score to break the 1:50.4 divisional standard set by Sugar Nips and Mark Evers in June of 2011.
Leaving from post seven in the seven-horse field, Montenegro was unable to find a spot along the rail in the early battle for position and pressed on to the front through the opening panel in :26.1. Reaching the top spot at the half-mile mark in :55, Montenegro continued to call the shots through the third quarter panel in 1:23.2 and braced for the stretch drive. American Girl and Sam Widger tipped from the pocket and posed a threat on the outside, but Montenegro found her best stride in the lane and used a :27 final frame to find the wire first.
Conditioned by Hoosier Park’s leading trainer Ron Burke, Montenegro notched her seventh win of the season and second consecutive win in the top class at Hoosier Park. With over $290,000 amassed lifetime, the five-year-old daughter of Camluck established a new lifetime mark with the 1:50.2 score.
The victory also marked the fourth winner of the evening for Hensley, who is currently second in the driver ranks at Hoosier Park.
(With files from Hoosier Park)