A pair of $34,247 finals for non-winners of two pacers highlighted the 12-race Saturday, May 18 card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Flirtin Fanera completed a clean sweep of the Go On BB for pacing fillies and mares while Sabonis shined with a dominant performance in the Hal Dale.  

The Hal Dale served as the ninth race on the evening with Sabonis sent off as the 1-9 favourite from the rail in the field of eight. With regular pilot Joey Putnam aboard, Sabonis settled in the third position off the wings of the gate as So Into You (Atlee Bender) crossed over from the eight hole to take the field to the first quarter in :27.1. Putnam was not content to sit any longer, brushing Sabonis to the front of the field up the backstretch before leading to the half in :55.4. Putnam grabbed in on the final turn with Sabonis in the bit on the lead while Shooting In Place (Trace Tetrick) rallied into second first-over at three-quarters in 1:24.

The field turned for home with Sabonis putting three lengths of separation between himself and the field at the top of the stretch. The lead would only continue to grow from there while Sabonis sprinted away with a :25.4 final quarter under minimal Putnam urging to cross the wire 4-1/4 lengths in front in 1:50. So Into You held for the place position, with Premier Romeo (Kyle Wilfong) finishing third.

Trained by Aaron Stutzman for owner Pat Miller, Sabonis is now a five-time winner in six seasonal outings. The son of Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue was bred by Karl Dean Miller and has now banked $68,244 in just eight career starts.

Earlier on the card, Flirtin Fanera turned in a dominating performance of her own to complete a sweep of the Go On BB. Ricky Macomber Jr. was aboard the 4-5 favourite, landing in the pocket from post three while Seven It Is (John De Long) protected the rail position to cut the opening quarter in :27.3. Macomber popped the pocket up the backstretch to assume command with Flirtin Fanera before the halfway point in :57. Atlee Bender and Scramjet applied pressure first-over on the far turn, while Flirtin Fanera took the field to the three-quarter station in 1:25.

Macomber hit the gas pedal turning for home and Flirtin Fanera responded, opening up by 2-1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch. Defining Moment and Trace Tetrick put in a rally from second-over to move into second in pursuit of the leader, but Flirtin Fanera held sway with a :26.2 dash to the wire to reach the line 1-3/4 lengths clear in 1:51.2. Seven It Is held for third to round out the trifecta.

The victory was the third in four 2024 starts for Flirtin Fanera, with the victories all coming consecutively. Co-owned by trainer Jamie Macomber and James Stonecipher, who bred the daughter of JK Endofanera-Mcflirty, Flirtin Fanera vaulted her career bankroll to $96,543 with the victory. 

Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday, May 22 with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. and features a $10,000 guarantee on the Hoosier High Five in race 14. Harrah’s Hoosier Park will also host a special Memorial Day card on Monday, May 27, highlighted by the first of eight legs of Indiana Sire Stakes for all four sophomore divisions with a first post of 6:15 p.m.

(Hoosier Park)