Indiana Sire Stakes action returned to Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with the sixth and final legs for two-year-old trotters. A trio of splits was needed for each sex as they competed for their final chance to earn their way into the $250,000 USD Super Finals during Hoosier Champions Night on Friday, Oct. 10.

The $63,194 first division for trotting fillies kicked off the card with Dangoodfeelin pulling the shocker at 22-1 from the perfect pocket trip. Trainer Robert Taylor was in the bike, landing the two-hole behind 4-5 favourite Meadowbrook Ashley (Doug Rideout), who cut first half-fractions of :27.2 and :57.2. After Meadowbrook Ashley led to three-quarters in 1:27.2, Dangoodfeelin exploded off her back trotting home in :27.3 to win by four lengths in a career-best 1:55.2. Hot Martini (Ricky Macomber Jr.) wore down Meadowbrook Ashley late to get up for second.

Dangoodfeelin ($46.60) has won five of 13 starts for owners Harvey Fry and Nathan Yoder. Fry also bred the daughter of Dover Dan-Dancin Feelin, who has banked $80,524.

The $63,889 second split for fillies proved more formful as Help Cum Laude scored as the 4-5 favourite. Atlee Bender guided the bettors’ choice into second early while 13-1 shot Honeymoon (Kevin Lambright) took control of the field of eight through a quarter of :28.2. Bender brushed Help Cum Laude to the top on the backstretch before a half of :58.4, and the filly led unopposed until For Dayze (John De Long) charged alongside the leader first-over at three-quarters in 1:28.2. Help Cum Laude turned away the challenge before opening up by three lengths with a :27 final split to stop the timer in 1:55.2. For Dayze held for second with Omg Am I Ok (Trace Tetrick) rallying for third.

The effort was a career best for Help Cum Laude ($3.60), who is two-for-two since the move to the Erv Miller barn and an overall winner of three of six starts. Owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Anthony Lombardi, and Doug Overhiser, the Black Creek Farm-bred daughter of Helpisontheway-Cum Laude Hall sports a bankroll of $90,005.

The $63,889 final division for trotting fillies went to Swan Gracelyn with trainer LeWayne Miller in the bike. Swan Gracelyn floated away fifth while Make It Spicy (Kyle Husted) was on top through a hotly contested first quarter of :27.3. LeWayne Miller moved Swan Gracelyn first-over on the backstretch, taking her to the top under urging after a half of :57.4 as the filly hesitated slightly while trying to clear moving into the final turn. Once on the point, Swan Gracelyn took pressure from Double A Dream (Tetrick) through three-quarters in 1:27.2. Swan Gracelyn repelled that challenge in the lane before facing one final foe as Pastors Delicacy (Kyle Wilfong) picked up steam late, coming up a half-length short of Swan Gracelyn, who broke her maiden in 1:57. Clear And Cool (Jordan Ross) rallied for the show spot.

Owned by Nathan Yoder, L&S Racing, and Platinum Stables, the winning daughter of Swan For All-Paint By Numbers was bred by Black Horse Racing. Swan Gracelyn ($9.60) has earned $53,244 through seven outings.

Dan D Man Can, another maiden-breaker in stakes action, broke through in a big way as he captured the $63,194 first division for trotting colts and geldings. Bender secured his charge the third spot early though a quarter of :28.1 before sending him to take over from Swan In All (Ross) on the way to the half in :57.4. The 1-5 favourite cruised to three-quarters in 1:27.2 before pouring it on in the stretch, stopping the timer in in 1:55 and winning by 3-3/4 lengths over The Gambler (De Long), with and Bravo Alpha (Rideout) third.

Erv Miller trains Dan D Man Can ($2.60), who tallied his first win in start number eight for owners Red Barn Stable, Overhiser, and Lava Java Stable. The Dover Dan-Caramela Hanover gelding was bred by Homestead Acres and has banked $108,850.

The win was one of four for Bender and three for Erv Miller as those two led their respective categories on the 14-race card. Outside of stakes action, the pair clicked with Iam Independent ($7.40) in the fifth race in 1:54.3. Miller has racked up 202 wins this season and is striking at a 22.2 per cent rate.

Driver Marcus Miller teamed up with Sunday Swagger for the first time in the $63,889 second colt division, and the duo led every step of the way in a 7-1 upset. Sunday Swagger trotted to the top through an opening quarter of :27.3 before producing well-rated middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:27 in front of pocket-sitter August Salazar (De Long). Once in the stretch, Sunday Swagger marched clear to a 1-3/4-length victory in a lifetime-best 1:54.3. Favourite Swan Affect (LeWayne Miller) rallied for second after never seeing the cones, with August Salazar holding for third.

Jay Hochstetler trains Sunday Swagger ($16.40), who has won two of eight starts for owners Connie and Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig, and Allen Schwartz. Bred by Homer Hochstetler and Buddig, the gelded son of Dover Dan-Sweet Thing has made $70,326.

Power N Steam capitalized on late-breaking leaders en route to victory in the $63,889 final split for trotting males. Mike Oosting and Power N Steam got away seventh in the field of eight while 4-5 favourite Swan Bi Bi (Ross) took the field to the quarter in :28.1. Power N Steam followed the cover of Itoo Volo (Tetrick) after a half of :58 to get towed into contention when Itoo Volo jumped it off rounding the final turn while matching strides with Swan Bi Bi before three-quarters in 1:28.2. Re-established alone on the lead, Swan Bi Bi appeared poised to cruise home before breaking stride midway through the lane, leading to Power N Steam inheriting the top position late and getting the job done by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:56.4. Bluebird Atomic (Lambright) got up for second, with Woodside Julius (LeWayne Miller) finishing third.

Ken Rucker trains Power N Steam ($8.20) who has won two of eight starts and earned $63,743 for owners Earnest Sork and Noreen and Shawn Nessa. The Swan For All-Flowers N Dreams colt was bred by Randy, Zane, and Tyler Wilt.

Racing continues on Wednesday, Oct. 1 with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. Two-year-old pacing fillies and three-year-old trotting distaffs will step into the spotlight for their final legs of Indiana Sire Stakes, with two divisions of each.

In addition to the Sire Stakes action, the Wednesday card features a carryover of $2,228 into the Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) with that pool being guaranteed at $10,000, as well as a $10,115 carryover into the Early Hoosier High 5 (Race 7). This pairs with the traditional $10,000 guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and Late Hoosier High 5 (Race 14), done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.

(Hoosier Park; photo of Sunday Swagger winning on Sept. 30)