The Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) dominated the proceedings on Wednesday, July 29 at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with rookie pacing colts and sophomore trotting fillies contesting a pair of divisions each. 

Dr Drake and Mr Bear scored in their $92,254 divisions for males, while Bluebird Kazoom and For Dayze captured the filly contests.

Dr Drake kicked off the stakes, scoring on the front end as the 6-1 third choice with Trace Tetrick aboard.

Away from post five, the colt rushed to the front early, cruising around Nu Chex To Cash (Anthony Miller) as he blitzed to the quarter in :26.4. The field raced single-file to the half in :56.1 before the 1-5 favourite Tell Me Its You (John De Long) tipped first-over from third. The favourite raced greenly on the far turn, drifting wide in fourth as Dr Drake continued the charge on the engine to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Dr Drake faced a two-pronged attack in the lane, with Nu Chex To Cash racing to his outside and 50-1 longshot Tellsfirstglimpse (Atlee Bender) splitting horses to make it a three-across battle. Dr Drake held firm to the wire, fending off Nu Chex To Cash by a neck with Tellsfirstglimpse a half-length back in third in the 1:51.2 mile. 

Owned by trainer Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing LLC, Dr Drake has won each of his last two starts after an eighth-place effort in his career debut. The Rockin Image-Northern Beauty colt, bred by Merle Yoder, sports a bankroll of $54,578 following the career-best effort. He paid $14.20 to win.

In the second division for pacing colts, Mr Bear delivered as the 1-9 favourite following an early miscue with Marcus Miller in the bike for his father, Erv. 

Leaving from the rail in the field of seven, Mr Bear took a bad step and briefly went off stride before gathering himself and settling in sixth as This Captain Rocks (Robert Taylor) led the field to the quarter in :27.2. This Captain Rocks took a breather to the half, reaching that point in :57.1 before Another Mile Again (Trace Tetrick) blitzed to the lead from third entering the far turn. Another Mile Again raced two lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:25.1 while Mr Bear began his long first-over charge from fifth, still with 7-1/2 lengths to make up at the third station. Mr Bear made up that deficit in a hurry, uncorking a vicious :25.2 stretch rally to fire to the front and open up on the field by two lengths on the wire in 1:52. Another Mile Again was second, with his Ron Burke stablemate, Ponda Spice (Atlee Bender), grabbing third. 

Now four-for-four to begin his career, Mr Bear boasts a bankroll of $109,817. The grey gelded son of Rockin Image-Mamas Lil Beach was bred by Mark Adams and Timothy Sullivan and is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., D&M Trading Il LLC, Levi Bontrager and Laura Perniciaro. The win price was $2.20

Bluebird Kazoom cruised to a dominant victory in the $68,310 first division for three-year-old trotting fillies. 

In a battle early out of post one, Bluebird Kazoom was put to the task of fending off Make It Spicy (Trace Tetrick) and favourite Fresh Face Yankee (Jay Cross). Bluebird Kazoom remained at the helm to the first quarter in :27.1 as Fresh Face Yankee advanced on the outside before making a break. At the half in :56.4, Bluebird Kazoom led the field for Jordan Ross with Make It Spicy in close pursuit and Fresh Face Yankee rejoining the field in last. Bluebird Kazoom remained in firm control at three-quarters 1:26.2 as Fresh Face Yankee began a three-wide rally from the backfield. Powering down the stretch, Bluebird Kazoom opened up the lead to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Fresh Face Yankee rebounded into second, while Make It Spicy held for third. 

Bluebird Kazoom is trained by Henry Graber Jr. for Hillside Stables, Indiana Stables LLC, Hickory Hollow Stables and Michael Rosenthal. The Swan For All-Stella Kemp filly tallied her ninth win in 11 starts in her debut season for a lifetime earnings total of $188,076. She paid $6.60 to win. 

For Dayze glided off cover to a comfortable victory as the 1-5 public choice in the $69,014 second filly trot contest.

Patient out of post seven, John De Long positioned For Dayze fifth at the start while Homesweethome (Jordan Ross) found the lead in a first panel of :27.2. Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) trotted from second with Honeymoon (Trace Tetrick) followed in third. Homesweethome stayed in command of the single-file field to the halfway pole in :56.4, with Honeymoon pulling out on the final turn to lead the charge and For Dayze following second-over. Homesweethome held on by a thread past three-quarters in 1:26.2 but was overwhelmed by Honeymoon, Help Cum Laude and For Dayze in the lane. For Dayze finished best of that group, separating from the challengers late for a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:53.4. Help Cum Laude powered into second along the cones, with Expressive Gal (Kyle Wilfong) rallying into third. 

For Dayze added her fourth win of the year in six starts, boosting her lifetime earnings to $505,006 and her record to 10-for-16. Roger Welch trains the daughter of Swan For All-Southwind Storm for William De Long and Patrick De Long. The filly returned $2.60.

Racing continues at Hoosier Park on Thursday with a 14-race program set to begin at 5:30 p.m. The $94,500 USD sixth leg of INSS for sophomore pacing colts and geldings serves as the fourth race on the evening, featuring Aces And Cinches and Swiss Lights. The $96,500 USD fifth leg for three-year-old trotting males goes as the ninth race with Dan D Man Can looking to remain unbeaten on the year. The Thursday program also features the traditional $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and Late High 5 (Race 14) done in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.

(Hoosier Park; photo of Mr Bear winning on July 29)