While she may have played the bridesmaid in her first start against stakes company, Im The Real Lady found the winner’s circle when it mattered most as she shined in the featured event, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for two-year-old pacing fillies, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, July 25.
With driver Peter Wrenn at the lines, Im The Real Lady was able to overcome a tough, first-over trip to score the second win of her career in a lifetime-best performance of 1:54.3.
Leaving from the coveted rail position, Im The Real Lady was eased off the gate to settle along the rail in fifth while the rest of the field sorted out early positions. Trace Tetrick had Flight Cancelled dialed in as he sent her to the front through an opening panel in :28.4. Shady Linds and Ed Hensley were well placed in the pocket while Aristobrat Hanover and Tyler Smith found good, early position third along the rail from post nine.
Flight Cancelled dictated fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.4 before ever feeling pressure from the rest of the field. Unable to wait any longer, Wrenn gave Im The Real Lady the green light heading into the final turn and they began their long first-over journey to the front with Ashok Ace and LeWayne Miller in tow. The field began to tighten as they rounded the final turn and it was a cavalry charge to the wire.
With the even-money favourite, Feetonthedashboard and Dale Hiteman, making a costly break around the final turn, the race appeared to be wide open. Im The Real Lady had reached the leader’s wheel half-way down the stretch and dug in gamely to put a nose in front at the wire. Flight Cancelled held on for the second-place honours while Aristobrat Hanover took advantage of a ground-saving trip to round out the trifecta. Sent off at odds of 4-1, Im The Real Lady returned $10 at the betting windows.
“The trip wasn’t perfect, but she was on her game tonight,” Wrenn noted after the win. “She’s a pretty handy little filly that is just starting to learn how to race and come into her own.”
Trained and owned by Perry Smith, the daughter of Real Desire-Hysterical Lady has now won two of three career starts while amassing $47,100 in career earnings. Im The Real Lady won her career debut at Hoosier Park and followed that performance up with the second-place finish in her elimination round of the Indiana Sires Stakes last week.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, July 26 with a 14-race card. highlighted by the $22,000 Invitational Pace.
(Hoosier Park)