A talented group of three-year-old trotting colts and geldings were in the spotlight at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action on Thursday, July 3. Two $31,500 divisions were featured on the evening’s 14-race card and the heavy betting favourites delivered to win their respective divisions.

Emma Town Bud and Michael Oosting turned in an impressive effort to capture the opening division in 1:53.2 for trainer Byron Hooley. Employing an eye-popping :25.3 final quarter, Emma Town Bud powered home to get the win by a length over the temppo-setting Swan In Motion and Ricky Macomber Jr.

Leaving from post five, Emma Town Bud left just enough to grab a pocket seat behind Swan In Motion who left alertly for early position. Swan In Motion led the field through fractions of :27.2, :58.1, and 1:27.2 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. As the field turned for home, Oosting timed his attack and when Emma Town Bud tipped from the pocket, he sprinted for home. Swan In Motion trotted strong to the wire to finish second while Dude Included and John DeLong were third. Emma Town Bud returned $4.00 to win.

With the win, Emma Town Bud is now undefeated in three starts this season. The 1:53.2 final clocking equaled his established lifetime best. The son of Big Stick Lindy-Centerfold Lady is owned by Summit Pacing Acres and has now amassed $152,081 in lifetime purse earnings.

After an uncharacteristic break in his first start of the season, TJs Top Pick rebounded gamely to take the second division of the stakes action with driver Trace Tetrick in the bike. Scoring in 1:53.2, TJs Top Pick made good on his 1-9 favouritism and established a new lifetime best in the process.

Leaving from post three in the abbreviated field of six, Tetrick wasted no time and sent his mount to the front. TJs Top Pick strolled through fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26 before he began to distance himself from the rest of the field. Turning from home with a three-length advantage, TJs Top Pick cruised home in :27.2 to finish under a hand drive from Tetrick. Flagman and Rick Plano benefitted from a pocket trip and trotted evenly to finish second while Speed Ball Swagger with LeWayne Miller rounded out the trifecta. As the heavy betting favourite, TJs Top Pick returned $2.20 at the betting windows.

Trained by Jeff Cullipher, TJs Top Pick scored the first win of his three-year-old campaign from two starts. With the win, the son of Swan For All-A Js Ayd improved his lifetime bankroll to $319,291 for owners Pollack Racing LLC, Jeff Cullipher, and Trace Tetrick.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, July 3 with three $23,500 divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on the evening’s 14-race card. With a daily post time of 6:30 pm, live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 21.

(Hoosier)