Turning on the jets down the stretch, Crooked Smile took flight late in the $30,137 Open Handicap Pace to take a trip to the winner’s circle at Hoosier Park on Friday, May 8.

Taking back from post four, trainer Timothy Wilson Jr.'s Crooked Smile and driver Jordan Ross settled into fifth in the field of seven while Little Rocket Man (Kyle Wilfong) was the most eager leading the field at the first quarter in :28.1 in the sloppy going. 

With action beginning to heat up on the backstretch, M M S Bud (LeWayne Miller) climbed up the ranks from the middle of the seven-horse field to challenge the leader first-over. Following closely behind, Crooked Smile took the opportunity to move into fourth following the live cover. A change in leader was in order as M M S Bud grabbed the narrow advantage on the outside to the half in :58.

Nearing the three-quarter pole, the field grew scattered as the gap grew between the rest of the pacers and the top four positioned horses, M M S Bud, Little Rocket Man, Coach Stefanos (Marcus Miller) and Crooked Smile. Hitting three-quarters in 1:24.4, Little Rocket Man continued to exchange the lead with M M S Bud as the duo battled up front. Trailing tightly behind, Coach Stefanos travelled along the rail with Crooked Smile continuing to linger to his outside in fourth.

Down the stretch, the post time favourite Coach Stefanos took his opportunity to challenge the leaders, squeezing between M M S Bud and Little Rocket Man. The excitement continued as Crooked Smile joined the party on the outside, making it a four-wide battle between the pacers and setting up a wild finish. Crooked Smile continued to press down on the accelerator, pacing home in :27 to soar to the lead late and win by a length in 1:52.2. M M S Bud held in for second with Coach Stefanos getting up for third.

Smiling all the way to a packed winner’s circle, the nine-year-old Crooked Smile is owned by Wilson Racing Stable of Martinsville, Illinois and Turn For Home Racing of Noblesville, Indiana. Improving to three-for-six this year, he increased his lifetime earnings over $740,000 while recording his 42nd career victory. 

Crooked Smile paid $23.60 for the 10-1 upset.

Earlier on the card, Tellmeaboutit, driven by LeWayne Miller for trainer Alvin Miller, broke the $1 million USD earnings mark in winning style, taking the Open 2-3 Handicap Pace.

Quick out the gate from post four, Tellmeaboutit took the early lead ahead of the rest of the field, meeting the first turn in :27. Making an early move in the backstretch, Sanday A (Trace Tetrick) swapped positions with Tellmeaboutit to take the lead at the halfway point in :56.1. Sanday A held the lead at the three-quarter turn in 1:24.4 followed closely by the new runner-up Naturally Gifted A (Atlee Bender) then Tellmeaboutit. Down the stretch, Tellmeaboutit regained the positions he lost earlier in the race, exploding to the wire in 1:52.2. Sanday A finished second with Naturally Gifted A third.

Trainer Alvin Miller also shares ownership of the 10-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Portia Blue Chip gelding, a 40-time career winner, with Twila Harts of Amboy, Indiana.

Tellmeaboutit paid $15.20 to win.

Live harness racing continues at Hoosier on Saturday, May 9 with a 14-race card that includes a $7,500 guaranteed Late Pick 4 and the $7,500 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5. First post is set for 5:30 p.m.

(With files from Hoosier Park)