So Shay pulled off a stunning upset at 49-1 to highlight the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies Tuesday evening at Hoosier Park. With Trace Tetrick at the lines, So Shay was able to stage a determined rally in the final strides of the mile to score the upset and establish a lifetime best mark of 1:52 in the process.
Upset-minded from the word 'go,' So Shay and Tetrick left alertly from the rail spot to land along the pylons in third. It was a cavalry charge to the front as the gate folded, but it was Always About Katey and driver Ed Hensley that were quickest and reached the front through the opening panel in :26.3. Bliss Hanover and Pete Wrenn also left alertly, but yielded for the pocket seat. Ricky Macomber Jr. sent Mandys Mattjesty firing off the gate, but they were relegated to fourth through the opening splits.
Always About Katey remained uncontested through the half-mile mark in :55.2 before feeling a threat on the outside from Mandys Mattjesty. Harmony Oaks Quike and driver Mike Micallef were well-placed second over with Crazy On You and LeWayne Miller next in line and in hot pursuit of the leader.
The pace began to quicken and the field began to tighten as they approached the three-quarter mark in 1:24 with Always About Katey still calling the shots. Bliss Hanover and Pete Wrenn were able to wear down the tiring leader mid-way through the stretch as So Shay and Tetrick loomed large in the background. Steering through traffic, Tetrick asked his filly for more and she responded with a :27.3 final panel to pull the upset and win by two lengths. Always About Katey held on for second while Crazy On You got up for the third place finish.
Dismissed at 49-1, So Shay returned $100.00 to her backers at the window. The trifecta including So Shay, Always About Katey, and Crazy On You lit up the tote board and returned $1,158.05.
Trained by Marty Rodgers, So Shay notched her second win of the season from her 11th seasonal outing. Sired by Gunthatwonthewest, the sophomore filly has now won four of 18 lifetime outings while bankrolling over $30,000 for owner Marla Bednarsh. So Shay bested her lifetime best mark by nearly four seconds with the 1:52 score.
The fourth and final round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies will continue on Tuesday, September 3 at Hoosier Park. The four-leg series will culminate with a $200,000 final slated for Wednesday, September 11 at Hoosier Park as part of the annual Hoosier Champions Night.
Live racing continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, August 21 with a 13-race card that will be highlighted by two $108,050 divisions of the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies. Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday-Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:30 p.m.
(Hoosier)