Sophomore pacing colts were the featured attraction at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in the opening round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals on Friday, June 1.

After tasting defeat for the first time eight starts in his elimination last week, Always A Prince and Trace Tetrick rebounded gamely to find the winner’s circle in 1:49.2. The 1:49.2 clocking was a new lifetime best and equalled the fastest mile of the season over the Hoosier Park oval through 44 nights of racing.

Leaving from the trailing post position 10, Always A Prince changed up his front-running tactics to settle along the rail in fifth. Jeopardy and Brandon Bates were the first to get a call through the opening panel in :26.4 while the rest of the field sorted out early positions. Shnitzledosomethin and Peter Wrenn, the slight post time favourites, were pointed to the front down the backside and grabbed command just before the second station in :54.3.

Shnitzledosomethin was still calling the shots at the three-quarter clocking in 1:22.1 but Always A Prince was on the attack, first-over with Gerardo and Luke Plano in tow. Shnitzledosomethin looked strong on the front but Tetrick asked his mount for more and Always A Prince found another gear. Utilizing a :27.1 final quarter, Always A Prince edged past a game Shnitzledosomethin to get the win by a length. Gerardo rallied well to round out the trifecta at 57-1.

Always A Prince returned $4.80 at the betting windows for the victory.

“He was as sharp as I’ve ever seen him tonight,” Tetrick said in the winner’s circle. “I obviously wanted a helmet to follow but that’s not the way the race worked out. He’s a true professional. He acts like an aged horse; you can do anything you want with him. He loves his job and is an extremely talented colt.”

It was the type of performance that surely would have put a smile on recently departed trainer Bill Dailey’s face. Always A Prince recorded his eighth seasonal victory from just nine starts. Unraced as a two-year-old, the gelded son of Always A Virgin-Glorious Princess is owned by Kimberly Dailey and Carl & Melanie Atley and has now amassed $78,500 in lifetime purse earnings.

Earlier on the evening’s 13-race card, Ricky Macomber Jr. steered Rockys Z Tam to a 1:49.2 victory to record the fastest mile of the 2018 season at Hoosier Park. It was one of three winners on the program for trainer Jamie Macomber and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. who also found the winner’s circle with Just N Ace in the $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes consolation for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings and Sir Mammo in a conditioned pace.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 2 with the $75,000 final for three-year-old pacing fillies.

(With files from Hoosier Park)