Mystic Karissa made amends for her first loss of the season last week as she captured the fastest division of the Bill Thompson Series, a late-closing event open to Indiana-sired, three-year-old and older fillies and mares that are non-winners of $30,000 lifetime, at Hoosier Park on Thursday, April 25.

The three-year-old filly notched her fifth win in six lifetime performances in career-best fashion, scoring in 1:53.3.

With Ricky Macomber Jr. at the lines once again, the heavily-favoured duo showed no hesitation as they left the gate alertly from Post 5 to reach the front through an opening panel of :27.3. Fritzie Chic and Trace Tetrick benefitted from a pocket trip as the public’s second choice, while Thunder Flight and Tyler Smith were well-placed along the rail in third. The field remained in single file order down the backside through a leisurely second panel. After the :57.2 half, Always As Fast was the first to commit to the outer flow as driver Jason Dillander had her out and firing approaching the final turn. Mystic Karissa remained untouched through the three-quarter clocking in 1:26.1 and when Macomber asked for more, she responded with a :27.2 final clip to reach the wire four lengths in front. Fritzie Chic paced evenly to finish second while Thunder Flight took home third-place honours. At even-money odds, Mystic Karissa returned $4.00 for the victory.

Unraced at two, Mystic Karissa has now earned over $15,000 in career earnings for her connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and L. Karr. The brown filly by Always A Virgin is conditioned by Hoosier Park’s 2012 leading trainer, Ron Burke.

In the opening leg of the late-closing action on the evening’s 14-race card, Virgin Girl and driver Ross Leonard were able to edge out their rivals late in the lane to reach the winner’s circle in 1:56.2. It was the first win of the season for Virgin Girl as she equalled her lifetime mark set at two.

Leaving from Post 7 in the nine-horse field, Leonard sent the filly from the gate quickly, but would have to work for the top spot, as Charlie Conrad also sent Two Green Peppers to the front. Two Green Peppers reached the first quarter mark in :27.1, but yielded the lead and opted for a pocket trip. Virgin Girl reached the front at the half mile mark in :58.3, but was quickly challenged on the outside by Always Handi and Don Eash. With a three-quarter clocking in 1:27.1, the top duo continued to battle it out as the field turned for home. It was Virgin Girl who was able to find a 29-second final quarter to best her rivals by three-parts of a length. Always Handi held on gamely to finish second while JDs Infinite Lady and Ed Hensley rounded out the trifecta.

Trained by Katie Dircksen, Virgin Girl has now won two of 13 career starts as she sent her lifetime bankroll over $20,000 for owners Scott and Kimberly Rudnick of Greenville, Ohio. The three-year-old filly by Always A Virgin was victorious in a leg of the Indiana Silver Sire Stakes at two.

Virgin Girl returned $6.40 for the win, but the biggest payout of the night was found just four races later when Go Gaspy Go crossed the wire. The superfecta ticket that included Go Gaspy Go, Leanto Scarlet, Justice For Belle, and JS Foxy Lady returned $4,633.55.

The Bill Thompson Series continues with a second, $10,000 leg on May 2. The $20,000 series final is slated for Thursday, May 9 at Hoosier Park. Live racing will follow a Tuesday-Saturday schedule at Hoosier Park with a daily first-race post time of 5:30 p.m.

(Hoosier)