Two-year-old pacing fillies began their Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) journey at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday, July 8 in a pair of divisions. 

Callie Rocks, driven by Trace Tetrick, built a loose lead and hung on to win the $93,571 first split.

Slotted in post five, the favoured filly stormed off the gate and glided along the outside to take the early lead past Skyway Elegant (Matt Krueger) and Ponda Era (Travis Seekman) to the first quarter in :27.2. Callie Rocks extended her advantage through the half in :57.2 and was ahead by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Ponda Era making a play first-over. Ponda Era made a late challenge with a :26.2 last quarter but could not reach Callie Rocks, who held on by a quarter-length in 1:53. Jks Fast (John De Long) shook loose late to rally for third, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.  

Owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber and Stephen Stoll, Callie Rocks boosted her lifetime earnings to $58,907 with her third career win in four starts. The daughter of Rockin Image-Cat Race was bred by David Fry. She paid $2.80 to win.

Mystical Jk and driver Kyle Wilfong went last-to-first in the stretch en route to a mild upset victory in the $92,857 second division.

Mystical Jk was away fifth from post five in the early stages while Kountry Legacy (John De Long) cut the opening quarter in :28. Owleos Pride (Ricky Macomber Jr.) brushed up the backstretch to the front, taking control before the half in :56.1. The fillies stacked up entering the final turn as Owleos Pride continued to three-quarters in 1:25 under fire from Fantastech (Marcus Miller) while Mystical Jk took the worst of the logjam and was shuffled to last, five lengths back. Owleos Pride turned away Fantastech before Mystical Jk began to wind up her rally on the wide side, blitzing home in :26.1 to nail Owleos Pride by a nose in 1:52.1. Fantastech held for third, 1-1/2 lengths back of the top two.

Mystical Jk, a daughter of Jk Endofanera-Mystical Carrie, took her maiden victory in her second start. She now has $46,429 banked for owners Connie Hochstetler, Mary Buddig, Janet Schwartz and South of the Tracks Racing. Mystical Jk was bred by Mystical Marker Farms LLC. She paid $17.20 to win.

Live racing at Hoosier Park continues on Thursday, offering a host of INSS action with the first leg for two-year-old trotting males. The card also has $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick 4 and the Late Hoosier High 5 done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. There is also an Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) carryover of $3,301, with that pool being guaranteed at $15,000 to begin the Thursday action.

(Hoosier Park; photo of Callie Rocks winning on July 8)