Favourites carried the day in the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for two-year-old colt trotters Friday at Indiana Downs. Led by Trottin Tiger, a 1:58.2 winner, favourites claimed three of four $40,000 divisions

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One week after setting a national season’s mark, Trottin Tiger and Sam Widger returned to the winner’s circle Friday for their second seasonal win. Starting from post six, Widger moved the Mossy Oak gelding to the front, clicking off fractions of :29.4, 1:00.2, and 1:29.3 before closing out the mile with a :28.4 last quarter. The Mark Gillenwater-trained freshman finished 2-1/2 lengths in front of My Muscleman. Earls Big Punch raced third. Trottin Tiger is owned by Gillenwater and Kevin Mc Kinney.

Favoured Whoabama Bluegrass and driver Mark O’Mara received every call en route to a 1:59.2 score in the night’s first division. Trained by Ronnie Guyh for Dr. Luel Overstreet, the ABC Garland-Wesgate Imagery gelding collected his first career victory by three parts of a length. Dontfusswithruss followed in second while Rendezvous Kid trotted third.

Widger picked up another ISS victory guiding Summit City Earl to a 2:02.2 score. Sent off as the favourite, the Earl Of Stormont gelding held off Elians Boy by three-quarters of a length followed by Onepointeightsix, a distant third. Summit City Earl, now a four-time winner in eight starts, is owned by Byron Hooley’s Summit Pacing Acres. Hooley trains the freshman.

Wayland Ivy and Josh Sutton, sent off at 27-1 odds, upset the field in the last $40,000 division of the night, winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Mr Balboa (45-1) and What Ideal (9-1) followed in second and third to trigger big payouts. Wayland Ivy paid $55.80 to win. Trained by Jeff Brewer, the CJs Secret gelding is owned by ACL Stuteri AB. The victory was the first career win for Wayland Ivy.

(Indiana Downs)