A duo of $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies were the featured attraction at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (May 18)

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Taking the rail route to victory, Sheza Cool Cookie was able to overcome a tough post and traffic trouble to win the fastest division of the stakes action in 1:53.3.

Starting from post eight in the eight-horse field, Sheza Cool Cookie and Sam Widger were not quick out of the gate, watching as Don Eash sent E R Sister to the lead through a :28.2 quarter mile time.

The duo continued to lead the way to the half in :56.1 before seeing a challenge on the outside from Royal Passion and Trace Tetrick, who endured a tough first over journey. Soaring Honey, the heavy betting favourite, was nicely placed along the rail in fourth.

As the field shifted heading into the last turn, Widger found racing room up the rail and Sheza Cool Cookie advanced nicely. Royal Passion was able to put a nose in front of the leader around the three-quarter mark in 1:25.1 with Soaring Honey following her closely second over. Using her rail position, Sheza Cool Cookie pushed by her rivals in the stretch to win by a neck in a lifetime best effort. Soaring Honey came on for second while American Girl staged a big rally late in the lane for the show.

Sheza Cool Cookie paid $8.20 for the win as the public’s third choice. The three-year-old filly has now hit the board in nine of her 10 career starts while banking $96,200 for trainer Rod Lorenzo, who also co-owns with Souren Hovsepian.

Roberts Ideal extended her win streak to three as she moved into stakes company for the first time this season with a 1:54.1 victory.

Leaving from post four, driver Ricky Macomber Jr. settled the 2-1 second favourite along the rail in second as Tyler Smith had Lima Calliope setting the early tempo in :28.2.

Macomber Jr. made his trademark move down the backside as he had Roberts Ideal out and firing just past the half-mile marker in :57. Insatiable Desire and Kayne Kauffman made a costly break trying to follow that cover.

Springhouse Waltz was left no choice as Sam Widger pulled the betting favourite first over around the last turn through a third panel of 1:26. Roberts Ideal sat comfortably on the lead as Springhouse Waltz staged her attack. Macomber pushed the pedal on Roberts Ideal as the field turned for home and she responded, stepping away to win convincingly by a length and three-quarters. Springhouse Waltz found her best strides down the lane, but only made up enough ground to finish a game second. Lima Calliope held on for the third place finish.

Roberts Ideal returned $6.20 to her backers.

“Of course we’d like to race from off the pace this time of year,” said Jamie Rucker, who oversees all training responsibilities for the division of the Burke Stable racing at Hoosier Park. “But Ricky does what he has to do out there and luckily this filly responded very well.”

Sired by I Scoot Hanover, the sophomore filly has now won three of her seven starts this season as she pushed her lifetime earnings over $110,000. Trained by Ron Burke, Roberts Ideal is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, E. Smith and Frank Baldachino.

(Hoosier Park)