Yearoffear, a recent graduate from the Indiana fair circuit, extended his winning streak to five in the third of three $63,699 divisions of round five of the Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Yearoffear, after winning his INSS debut on Aug. 23, made it back-to-back scores in the series as he upset at 10-1 with trainer Doug Rideout in the bike. Leaving from post four, Yearoffear found himself in the middle of a three-across battle for the lead on the first turn, when 1-2 favourite San Patricio (Trace Tetrick) jumped it off to his outside at the quarter in :28.3. Yearoffear cleared Swan In All (Jordan Ross) on the backstretch and led the field to the half in :58 before trotting 2-1/2 lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:27.4. Yearoffear raced gamely on the lead in the stretch, holding a host of longshot challengers at bay to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. Inverness Ave (Jay Cross) rallied for second at 61-1, with Swan In All holding for third at 41-1.

Yearoffear, who won his Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit Championship on Aug. 9, has won nine of 14 starts and earned $98,794 for owners Julie Rideout, Alan White, and Gracie Rosson. The gelded son of Dont Letem-Isabella Carina was bred by Harvey Fry. He paid $23.80 at the betting windows.

Bluebird Atomic, driven by Kevin Lambright, kicked off the stakes action, staging a late rally at 7-1 to notch his second career victory. Bluebird Atomic got away in fourth in the field of nine as August Salazar (John De Long) protected his rail starting position to get away on top through a quarter of :28.4. August Salazar had things his way on the engine through middle-half fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.1 and brought the field to the top of the stretch. 

Lambright fed Bluebird Atomic racetrack in the lane, but there were still three lengths between them and August Salazar with an eighth of a mile to go. Bluebird Atomic motored home in :28.4 and gobbled up ground late, and he rallied past August Salazar by 1-1/4 lengths to prevail in 1:57. Great Commission (Aaron Stutzman) navigated a host of breakers in the lane to be third at 82-1.

Trained by Robert Taylor, Bluebird Atomic is now two-for-six. The gelded son of Swan For All-Highland Hills was bred by Daryl Miller and has banked $52,268 for owners Taylor Racing LLC and Kyle and Jill Hupfer. Bluebird Atomic returned $16.60 to win.

Swan Affect was a repeat winner in the Indiana Sire Stakes in the second division, performing as expected as the 4-5 favourite with regular pilot LeWayne Miller in the bike. Leaving from the rail, Swan Affect trotted in fourth on the first turn while Mr Halbert (Tetrick) cut the opening panel in :28.2. Swan Affect followed the cover of Swan Bi Bi (Ross), who moved first-up to challenge Mr Halbert at the half in :57.4. 

Swan Bi Bi had to be gathered up moving into the far turn when attempting to clear, keeping him parked and pressing to the outside of Mr Halbert through three-quarters in 1:27.3 with Swan Affect poised to tip three-deep. Swan Affect swept by the duelling leaders in the lane, rolling home an easy 1-1/2-length winner in 1:56.1. Itoo Volo (Marcus Miller) split rivals late to be second at 19-1, with Mr Halbert holding for the show position.

A five-time winner and having been no worse than second in seven career tries, Swan Affect is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. for owners John McGill and Matthew Miller. McGill also co-bred the gelded son of Swan For All-Flower Hour, who has banked $153,306, with Lavon Miller. Swan Affect paid $3.60 to win.

Racing will resume at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday with a 14-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Thursday program features a pair of $10,000 guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and Late High 5 (Race 14), done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.

(With files from Hoosier Park)