Radar Contact Targets ISS Repeat
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Radar Contact and driver Dan Shetler will use one final race to prepare for next week’s $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final set for Saturday, July 16. The three-year-old filly is four-for-four in 2011 and is favoured to move that streak to five in the ninth race Saturday, July 9
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Trained by Chuck Stillings, Radar Contact first came into the picture as a two-year-old last season at Hoosier Park, winning a preliminary leg of the Sandra Lil Series before finishing third in the $30,000 final. Her journey continued at Indiana Downs where she reeled off four more wins, including the final four races of the year that ended with the $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old pacing fillies. Radar Contact polished off the year as the second highest two-year-old filly in the state behind Dollys Joy in the point standings.
Radar Contact returned as a three-year-old this season stronger than ever. She used two qualifiers to prepare for the summer schedule in Indiana at Spring Garden Ranch, winning the second one in a time of 1:53.4, setting an all-age track record at the training facility accompanied by Stillings.
Radar Contact is now four-for-four in 2011 for owners Stillings and Dean Ehrgott of Indianapolis. The Dontgetinmyway daughter has earnings in excess of $282,000 and is primed to add to that tally in Saturday's race. Radar Contact will start from Post 6 in the ninth race as the early morning line favourite at odds of 2-1. Once again, the talented filly will be accompanied by Dan Shetler, who is undefeated behind the filly in eight career starts.
“She is a nice filly, that is for sure,” said Shetler. “It’s been a pleasure to drive her and she’s come back well this year.”
A half-sister to Sapphire Martini, Radar Contact was purchased by Stillings from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale under the name of Topville Caviar for $10,000. Stillings, who has served as an air traffic controller at Indianapolis International Airport for more than two decades, trains out of the Indiana State Fairgrounds and has enjoyed success with several standouts from his barn over the past few years, including Post Mark, winner of more than $283,000 during her career. R
adar Contact will be one of the stars lined up for the finale Saturday, July 16 for Hoosier Champions Night, featuring purse money in excess of $1.2 million. The night will include several additional promotions and giveaways from the Indiana Standardbred Association and the meet’s leading driver and trainer will be crowned. Post time for the 14-race event is set for 5:30 p.m. EST.
(Hoosier Park)