In just the fifth start of her sophomore season, Playful Innocence used a sharp, front-running effort to notch her first win of the season and lower the Hoosier Park track record for three-year-old trotting fillies in the process on Wednesday, July 10 at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino.

With driver/trainer Dan Shetler at the lines, Playful Innocence captured the fourth and final round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies in 1:55.2, a lifetime-best effort. The previous track record of 1:55.3 was established by Jesse Lane and Mark O’Mara just one month ago in the second round of the Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action. The 1:55.2 victory marks the sixth track record that has been lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval in 2013.

Leaving from post two, Shetler left no room for error as he sent Playful Innocence to the front through an opening panel in :28.2. Sent postward as the heavy betting favourite, Jesse Lane and O’Mara used their off-the-pace tactics and settled along the rail fourth through the early stages. Justice First and Verlin Yoder followed the leader intently from the pocket while Jessie E and Trace Tetrick were well placed along the rail in third.

Playful Innocence appeared to relax on the front as she continued to lead the abbreviated field of seven to the half-mile mark in :59. The tightly knit field remained in single-file line approaching the final turn before Tetrick gave Jessie E the green light.

Jessie E reached the leader’s wheel through the three-quarter clocking in 1:28.1 before being turned away by Playful Innocence. Using a :27.1 final panel, Playful Innocence was able to hold off a hard-charging Jesse Lane to finish two lengths in front of her closest competitor. Jesse Lane found herself with too much ground to make up in the stretch, but finished a game second while Jessie E held on for third. Playful Innocence returned $14.20 to her backers for the victory.

Sired by Justice Hall, Playful Innocence is bred, owned and conditioned by Dan and Jo Anne Shetler of Indianapolis, Indiana. With over $55,000 in lifetime earnings, Playful Innocence has now won seven of 14 career outings. The three-year-old filly bested her previous lifetime mark by nearly three seconds with the 1:55.2 score.

The $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for three-year-old trotting fillies is slated for Saturday, July 20 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Tagged as “Hoosier Champions Night,” Hoosier Park will play host to a night boasting purses over the $1 million mark.

(Hoosier Park)