Indiana-sired two-year-old trotters were the featured attraction at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, Aug. 24 as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by a pair of Indiana Sires Stakes divisions for the freshman filly trotters and two divisions for the trotting colts.
The driver-trainer, husband-wife combination of LeWayne and Susan Miller teamed up to sweep both divisions for the two-year-old trotting fillies. In the first division, Skyway Paige led gate-to-wire from post eight to score by two lengths in 1:55.3. It was the second win in seven starts and a new lifetime best for the filly.
Trained by Susan Miller, the daughter of Swan For All-Prismatica has now earned $73,545 in lifetime purses. Skyway Paige is owned in partnership by Hoosier Standardbred Farm, Ryan Raber, L And S Racing and Anthony Swartzentruber.
In the next division, Crystal Swan (pictured above) staged an incredible late rally to track down the heavily favoured and undefeated Ponda Title in the final strides of the mile. Stopping the timer in 1:55.4, Crystal Swan narrowly got the victory over Ponda Title and Kyle Wilfong while Ponda Grace and Trace Tetrick finished third.
Also trained by Susan Miller, Crystal Swan recorded her third win from seven starts and established a new lifetime best in the process. The daughter of Swan For All-Tymal Hurricane is owned in partnership by First Chance Stable, Platinum Stables, David Postman, and Ryan Raber and has now earned $77,458 in lifetime purse earnings.
The trotting colts were up next and it was Dashing Danny, who turned in an impressive performance to take the opening division in 1:55. Making his first start for new connections, Dashing Danny and driver Kyle Wilfong utilized an impressive late-closing kick to track down the pacesetting Topville Sebastian and Joey Putnam to get the victory.
Now trained by Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s leading trainer, Jeff Cullipher, Dashing Danny recorded his ninth win from 12 lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by Pollack Racing LLC and Cullipher, the gelded son of Dover Dan-Sashay now sports a lifetime bankroll of $76,087.
In the final division, driver, trainer Daryl Bontrager utilized similar tactics to steer Gruesome Twosome to victory in 1:56.1. Using a :28.3 closing quarter, Gruesome Twosome outsprinted his rivals to get the victory by a head.
Owned by Ira Steinberg and Daryl Bontrager, Gruesome Twosome has now won three of five lifetime starts. The son of You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go has earned $88,625 in lifetime purses.
Live harness racing for Thursday, Aug. 24 has been cancelled out of an abundance of caution with forecasted excessive heat in the area. Live racing will resume on Friday, Aug. 25 with a 14-race card featuring Indiana Sires Stakes action. First post will be 7 p.m.
(Hoosier Park)