On Wednesday, September 21, Indiana Downs played host to a trio of $40,000 Indiana Sires Stakes dashes for freshman trotting colts and geldings, and favourites carried the day.

Dontfusswithruss, from the first crop of Elegant Man, turned in the fastest of the three splits, as he trotted away from his field to win by a dozen lengths in 1:58.1.

Having drawn the rail in the field of 10, Joe Essig, Jr. and Dontfusswithruss got away fourth as Mr Balboa and Dave Magee led the field through a :29.3 first quarter. Essig didn’t sit long with the two-year-old, as he moved him to the top on the way to a :59.3 opening half. The gelding trotted a 30-second third quarter before opening up by eight lengths at the top of the stretch. He cruised home in :28.3 to claim his third seasonal win. Dc Chug-A-Lug and driver Sam Widger finished a distant second. Irish Express finished third.

Dontfusswithruss was bred and is owned by Jacalyn Beenman of Alexandria, Indiana. The gelding, out of Armbro Rotary mare MI Jezebel, is trained by Roger Cullipher.

After finishing a narrow second in the $200,000 ISS final September 10, Trottin Tiger returned to the winner’s circle Wednesday night with a 1:58.3 performance. Driven by Sam Widger, the Mossy Oak--Capryz Kelvin gelding took control while racing to the half and pulled away in the stretch. He crossed the wire nearly eight lengths in front of his nearest rival. The favourite was followed by early breaker My Muscleman (driven by Josh Sutton) and Munch N Crunch (Doug Rideout).

Trained by Mark Gillenwater, who owns the gelding with Kevin Mc Kinney, Trottin Tiger earned his fifth win of the season. He has hit the board in each of his nine career starts.

Fromdownunder Ivy, tabbed as the favourite in the second $40,000 division, scored a 1:59.1 triumph for his connections. Driven by Sutton, the Southwind Elian--Frock N Wave gelding challenged first-up as he raced to the half (1:00.2). Having taken control shortly thereafter, the trotter extended his margin to two and one-half lengths at the finish. Dave Magee and second choice Velten San Siro trotted second, followed by Dan Shetler and Chevie Balboa.

Fromdownunder Ivy is trained by Jeff Brewer for Acl Stuteri Ab. Paul Webb of Ivy Lane Farm bred the freshman.

(Indiana Downs)