Trainees from the Erv Miller Stable flexed their muscle Saturday, September 26 in stakes action at Indiana Downs

. Iam Bonasera and Mysoontobe led the charge, sweeping both $65,000 divisions of The Elevation for freshman colt pacers. To top things off, Mystical Valentine, another Miller pupil, picked up a win in the $50,000 Mega Mini Series final.

Iam Bonasera rebounded from a narrow defeat in last week’s Orange & Blue final to score a decisive victory in his Elevation division. Driven by Brandon Simpson, the Cole Muffler two-year-old used a first-over trip to perfection, winning in 1:51.1. Morgan Shark finished nearly two lengths back while Perrito Caliente raced third.

When the gate folded, Simpson got away last in the field of six with the gelding as the favored Joe Seekman entry of Perrito Caliente and Morgan Shark swapped turns on the lead through opening fractions of :26.4 and :55.1. The driver wasted little time putting the second choice in contention, moving first up and advancing to second by the three quarter mile marker (1:23.3). The duo propelled home with a :27.3 final panel to earn the win for owners John Carver, Mystical Marker Farms LLC, and Peggy and Jack Hood.

“I thought there would be a couple leaving, and I had hoped to get away third or fourth,” Simpson said. “I had to go to Plan B and come first up, but he’s the type of horse that can handle that. He’s super fast and super tough.”

The win was the fifth in nine starts for Iam Bonasera. The gelding has earned $99,958 this season for his connections. Bred by Cottonwood Farm, the time equaled his previous best, taken at DuQuoin earlier in the month.

Mysoontobe completed the Elevation sweep for Miller, using a second-over trip to break his maiden in 1:52. Stablemate Pike Hanover paced second as favorite Four Starz Trace faded in the stretch to finish third. Trace Tetrick sat behind the winner after previously qualifying him at The Red Mile.

Lining up fourth in the field of six, Mysoontobe raced off the pace early, falling in line fifth as Four Starz Trace and Peter Wrenn set the tempo with a :26.2 opening panel. Wrenn would back the field down with a :29.1 second quarter and Pike Hanover and Simpson were soon underway, moving first up on the backstretch. Tetrick would follow suit, and the cover carried the Western Hanover colt to third at the top of the lane. In the stretch, Mysoontobe sprinted to the wire with a :27 last quarter to win by three parts of a length.

“He felt strong coming out of the turn,” stated Tetrick. “The trip couldn’t have worked out any better.”

The victory was the first in five starts for Mysoontobe. The colt is owned by Kentuckiana Racing Stable, John Carver and Ian Dobson. Out of Cam’s Card Shark mare Michelle’s Revenge, the freshman was bred by Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership.

Mystical Marker Farms’ Mystical Valentine completed the Erv Miller Stable sweep with a 1:51.1 score in the $50,000 Mega Mini Series Saturday night. Driven by Wrenn, the Dream Work sophomore used a pocket trip to earn his fifth win of the season in record time. Favorite Unrecognized Saint finished second after setting the pace while Master Punch rallied for third.

“He’s really sharp right now,” Wrenn noted. “He’s right at the top of his game.”

The victory pushed Mystical Valentine’s career earnings to $181,940. The winning time shaved more than a full second off his previous best.

Art Official turned for home with the lead in Saturday’s $22,000 Invitational Handicap but faded in the stretch as Freddyscooter and Brad Hanners surged up the lane and kept a head in front of a late-closing Sports Fanatic and Sam Widger in 1:50.2. Robin I Scoot and Tetrick were third. Art Official, the 1-9 favourite, finished sixth for Wrenn.

(Indiana Downs)