Always A Prince, with Trace Tetrick in the bike, stole the show during a stakes-filled card on Wednesday (July 25) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino after powering home a winner in 1:48.4 to re-establish the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings for the second time this season.

In notching his tenth win of the season, Always A Prince used a sharp, front-end effort to capture his split of the $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Always A Prince established the previous record of 1:49 on June 29 when he broke a record that had stood for three years. The 1:48.4 victory was a new lifetime best for the sophomore colt and equalled the fastest mile over the Hoosier Park oval this season through 82 nights of live racing.

Always A Prince, pictured establishing a new 1:48.4 track record for sophomore pacing geldings at Hoosier Park

Tetrick wasted no time after the Post 6 start, as he sent the heavy favourite straight to the front. The duo would have to work for the lead, as Just N Ace (driven by Ricky Macomber Jr.) also left for position. Always A Prince grabbed command just before the first quarter in :27 and clicked off splits of :54.4 and 1:22.2 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Do Work Son and John DeLong were applying pressure first-over as the field turned for home, but Tetrick had yet to ask Always A Prince.

Utilizing a :26.2 final panel, Always A Prince kicked away from the rest of the field and finished five lengths to the good under a hand drive from Tetrick. Do Work Son got up for second, while Just N Ace held on for third-place honours. As the heavy betting favorite, Always A Prince returned $2.20 to his backers at the betting windows.

With the win, Always A Prince recorded his 10th seasonal victory from 12 starts. Unraced as a two-year-old, the gelded son of Always A Virgin is trained by Tyler George. Owned by Carl and Melanie Atley, Always A Prince sent his career earnings over the $100,000 mark with the victory. Always A Prince was bred by Emerald Highlands Farm, who also swept the four $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for two-year-old pacing fillies on the program with Glorious Virgin, Pure Maid, Fully A Virgin and Lady Capulet. All of the evening’s elimination winners will return for the next round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Finals, slated for August 1 at Hoosier Park.

Live racing will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, July 26 with a 14-race card.

With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule and will be conducted through November 10. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit hoosierpark.com.

(Hoosier Park)