Three-year-old trotting colts & geldings were the highlight of Thursday, September 24’s racing card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

With a competitive field of ten behind the gate, it was Dude Included who dug in to win the sixth leg of stakes action for the sophomore trotters, earning the Trent Stohler trainee his second stakes win in 1:54:4.

When the gate opened John DeLong guided Dude Included to find a spot along the rail in third. TJs Top Pick and Trace Tetrick carved out fractions of :27:4 and :57:1 while Dude Included waited patiently for a chance to move in on the leader. Not long after the half, Speedball Swagger with LeWayne Miller moved first-over and Bluebird Deacon with Jay Cross grabbed the cover to advance positions.

The battle for the lead heightened through the third quarter in 1:26:4, Speed Ball Swagger was able to wear down TJs Top Pick but Dude Included was winding up to strike. Speed Ball Swagger and Bluebird Deacon were slugging it out on the front but it was Dude Included who was widest of all and surged ahead for the win. Bluebird Deacon dug in gamely for second and Speed Ball Swagger in third. Dude Included paid $6.40 to win at the betting windows.

“The team does a great job taking care of him,” Stohler noted. “I think he races best if he has a target to aim for, which worked out beautifully tonight. He hasn’t done a thing wrong.”

Dude Included has now won four of ten lifetime starts, sporting a lifetime bankroll of $184,395 for owner Benjamin Graber. The son of Class Included-Celebrity Faith was bred by Lester Beechy.

Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, September 25 and will present the third edition of the Caesars Trotting Classic, as well as several additional Grand Circuit events. Heralded as Breeders Crown Preview Night, the evening will feature over $1.2 million in purses to be distributed along with several promotions for guests. The night will also feature several guaranteed wagers including $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta for the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, a $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta for the Caesars Trotting Classic and a $15,000 in the final race of the night.

(Hoosier)