Inverness Ave and Nighthawk Zette secured big wins as they took down their respective $68,750 divisions of the sixth leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Hoosier Park On Thursday, Aug. 20.

Inverness Ave, driven by Kevin Lambright for trainer Ernie Gaskin, scored at 22-1 in the first division while upending the previously unbeaten Dan D Man Can.

Inverness Ave found easy access to the rail, dropping in fourth from post three while Swan Affect (Marcus Miller) led to the first quarter in :28. The favoured Dan D Man Can (Atlee Bender) asserted his will, gliding to the front of the seven-horse field to the halfway pole in :57.3. On the turn, Inverness Ave advanced from fourth and cruised alongside Dan D Man Can on the way to three-quarters in 1:25.2. Down the stretch, the trotters faced a familiar sight as Dan D Man Can continued to fend off any challenges. But Inverness Ave wrote a different ending this time as he wore down the leader to hand Dan D Man Can his first loss in eight starts this year, crossing the wire in 1:52.3 clear by three-quarters of a length. Swan Affect held for third.

The winning Helpisontheway-Arvika gelding is owned by Theodore Engel, Douglas Shore and Ernest Gaskin Stables Inc. Inverness Ave was bred by The Bay’s Stable LLC, Polger Holdings LLC and Little E LLC. Boosting his lifetime earnings to $233,747, Inverness Ave won for the sixth time in 27 starts. He is four-for-16 this year. The win price was $46.60.

In the second flight of INSS, Nighthawk Zette surged late for trainer-driver LeWayne Miller to secure a sixth win of the season from 13 starts.

Nighthawk Zette settled into fourth as Woodside Julius (Marcus Miller) led to the first quarter in :27. Bravo Alpha (Trace Tetrick) then transitioned to the helm and held the advantage to the half-mile mark in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4. Working his way from the back, Nighthawk Zette chased down the leader, trotting his last quarter in :27.2 to nail the that foe at the wire in 1:53.2 by a quarter-length. Bravo Alpha settled for second, while Woodside Julius claimed third.

Nighthawk Zette improved his lifetime earnings to $122,300 with his sixth win in 13 starts. Owned by L&S Racing, Lyndar Stables and Richard Freese, Nighthawk Zette was bred by Cozette McAvoy. He paid $3.60 to win.

The Friday 14-race card pari-mutuel card features a host of INSS action with the fourth leg for two-year-old trotting fillies, third leg for rookie pacing males and the seventh leg for sophomore trotting colts and geldings. There are also INSS divisions for aged trotting mares (to be held as a pre-card non-betting contest), older male trotters and aged pacing mares. The Friday card offers the $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.

(With files from Hoosier Park; photo of Inverness Ave winning on Aug. 20)