Sophomore standouts Sabonis and Lets Go Endofaera were as advertised in Indiana Sire Stakes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 4. In the eighth and final leg of Sire Stakes for both the sophomore pacing colts and fillies, Sabonis extended his streak to 13 on the year in the first division for colts, while Lets Go Endofaera clinched her seventh consecutive victory in the second split for fillies.

The 1-20 favourite in his $68,243 division, Sabonis and regular pilot Joey Putnam left from post five in the field of eight. A 43-1 shot, Noblesville (Brandon Bates) rocketed to the front from post eight entering the first turn, with Sabonis settling in fifth through a first quarter of :26.1. M Ms Bud (Jay Cross) worked around Noblesville on the backstretch, leading the field to the halfway point in :55.1. Sabonis flushed the cover of Packedwithluck (Trace Tetrick), who started the outer flow, charging into second with M Ms Bud continuing to lead to three-quarters in 1:23. Perfectly positioned second-over, Sabonis surged off cover at the top of the lane, pacing home in :26.3 with the plugs still in to power to victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1. Noblesville rallied up the passing lane for place and M Ms Bud held for show.

A winner in 16 of 17 starts on the season, Sabonis is trained by Aaron Stutzman for owner Pat Miller. Sporting earnings of $643,081 this season, Sabonis has not tasted defeat since May 3 of this year as he heads to the $250,000 USD Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final next Friday, Oct. 11 as part of Hoosier Champions Night.

Lets Go Endofaera left little suspense regarding her win streak, scoring in front-end fashion in her $66,892 Sire Stakes division.

The bettors’ choice at 1-20, Lets Go Endofaera and driver John De Long landed in the pocket on the first turn, sitting behind Flirtin Fanera (Ricky Macomber Jr.) through a quarter of :27.1. Lets Go Endofaera forfeited the pocket to move to the lead on the backstretch, backing the pace down considerably to the half in :57.4. Galleys Image (Brandon Bates) tipped from third on the final turn, spotting Lets Go Endofaera 1-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. The sprint for home commenced with Galleys Image in hot pursuit of the favourite, but Lets Go Endofaera was not to be caught, pacing home in :25.3 to reach the wire three parts of a length in front in 1:52. Lyin Eyes (Joey Putnam) closed for third.

The divisional champion last year at two, Lets Go Endofaera has backed up her star two-year-old campaign by winning nine of 10 races in 2024 for trainer Tabby De Long. Jesse De Long bred and co-owns the daughter of JK Endofaera-Lets Go Higher along with John and William De Long. Lets Go Endofaera enters next week’s Super Final just shy of $400,000 in earnings on the season.

De Long homebreds swept the filly divisions as Teelatini sizzled to a career-best effort with driver Trace Tetrick a race prior in the $66,892 first split.

Teelatini got away third early with Defining Moment (Brandon Bates) jumping out to an early lead to cut the quarter in :27. Tetrick moved the 2-5 favourite to the lead on the backstretch, assuming command before reaching the half in :55.2. Teelatini looked to give the field the slip on the final turn, opening up by 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:23. The lead widened to 4-1/2 lengths midway through the lane before Jada Caroline (Marvin Luna) staged a late rally to close the gap, but not before Teelatini crossed the wire 1-1/2 lengths clear in 1:49.4. All JK (John De Long) rounded out the trifecta.

Since joining leading trainer Tyler George’s barn in September, Teelatini has won two of three races, with her lone defeat being a runner-up finish to Lets Go Endofaera in the $101,351 Carl Becker Memorial on Sept. 20. Bred by owners William and Patrick De Long, the daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap has won four of 12 starts in her three-year-old campaign with earnings of $176,234. 

Trace Tetrick snagged the other $68,243 division for colts as well, surging late up the pylons with Martz Telly at 6-1 to pull off the mild upset.

Play Action Pass (Mike Oosting) hustled to the lead at 11-1 through a hot opening quarter of :26.1 while Martz Telly got away fouth in the field of eight. Play Action Pass had things his way to the half in :55 before leading to three-quarters in 1:23 with Martz Telly shuffled and pinned to the cones in fifth. Turning for home, the race appeared to be between Play Action Pass and Dale Yea (Marvin Luna), who popped pocket and set his sights on the leader, before Martz Telly found a seam up the passing lane to make it a three-horse battle. Surging home in :25.3, Martz Telly timed his move just right, nosing out Dale Yea for the victory in 1:49.3, with Play Action Pass just a head back in third.

The victory took nearly two full seconds off of his career mark as Martz Telly notched his second win of 2024 in 12 outings. Trained by Ron Burke, Martz Telly has made $76,561 on the season for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Frank Baldachino and Weaver Bruscemi.

In other Sire Stakes action on the card, Walkin On Sunshine and trainer/driver converted a pocket trip to take the $27,027 prep for aged pacing mares in 1:50.1, while Flagman tracked down Ponda Jet in 1:52 to take the $27,027 prep for aged trotting males with trainer/driver Rick Plano.

Racing action concludes for the week on Saturday, Oct. 4 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. The card gets underway with a $10,000 guaranteed in the Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) featuring a carryover of $2,266.69. Free programs are available for Saturday’s card on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website.

(Hoosier Park)