Indiana’s finest were out in full force during Hoosier Champions Night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 10. The 15-race bonanza crowned 12 Indiana Sire Stakes champions, with eight $347,222 Super Finals for two- and three-year old competitors to go along with a quartet of $69,444-$97,222 finals for aged competitors.
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
The Super Final action got underway with the glamour boy division and Rock Shines Again delivering a crushing performance to remain undefeated though 13 starts this season. Driver Trace Tetrick hustled Rock Shines Again off the wings from post five as the 1-9 favourite, parked and pressing to the lead through an opening quarter of :25.4 to the outside of Avanti (Yannick Gingras). Once clear, Rock Shines Again tapped the brakes to a half of :54.1 before giving the field the slip on the far turn, opening up by 4-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:21.4. From there, Rock Shines Again coasted home a winner in the stretch, stopping the timer in 1:49.4, 2-1/2 lengths clear of 71-1 shot Special Pete (Atlee Bender) and 73-1 bomber The Family Man (Marcus Miller).
Trained by Tyler George for Anderson, Indiana owners T G Stable and Ricky Redder, Rock Shines Again has banked $446,126 during his perfect season after going winless in 11 starts at age two. Victory Hill Farms bred the Rockin Image-Bikini Star gelding. Rock Shines Again paid $2.20 to win.
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
After tasting defeat a week ago to Help Cum Laude in the final leg of sire stakes, For Dayze turned the tables on that rival in a thrilling stretch duel to take the rookie filly trot. Leaving from post eight, driver John De Long floated For Dayze off the wings into sixth early while Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) cut a hot opening quarter of :27. Help Cum Laude rolled to the half in :56.1 before For Dayze marched first-over, racing to the leader’s wheel as the fillies went to three-quarters in 1:26.3. For Dayze wheeled onto even terms with Help Cum Laude at the top of the stretch when the two fillies dropped the gloves, slugging it out to the wire with For Dayze just nosing out a gritty Help Cum Laude in a career best 1:54.4. Expressive Gal (David Miller) rallied for the show spot at 30-1, 2-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Roger Welch trains For Dayze for owners William De Long of Clinton, Wisconsin and Patrick De Long of South Beloit, Illinois. Bred by Ernie Lambright, the daughter of Swan For All-Southwind Storm has compiled a record of 10-6-3-0 this season while banking $363,083. For Dayze paid $17.40 as a mild 7-1 upsetter.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Trainer Roger Welch came right back to tack on another Super Final victory in the next, this time with two-year-old pacing filly Whoomp extending her win streak to four with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Tetrick and the 4-5 favourite were away well from the second tier, getting away in third as Milliondollarimage (Jordan Ross) took the fillies to the quarter in :27.2. Somemore Blue (Marcus Miller) moved to the lead from the pocket on the backstretch, being tracked by Whoomp, who asserted herself to the top at the half in :56. Whoomp powered to three-quarters in 1:24.1 before delivering a :26.3 knock-out blow in the final stanza, cruising by 3-3/4 lengths to win in a career best 1:50.4. Somemore Blue held for second, with Rock The Charm (John De Long) finishing third.
William and Patrick De Long bred and co-own the winning daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap along with Jesse De Long of Clinton, Wisconsin. Whoomp’s record now stands at 13-8-1-1 with earnings of $484,925 following the victory. She paid $3.60 to win.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Premier Bluebird and driver Kyle Wilfong towed into from third-over before delivering a stretch rally to score in the two-year-old colt trot. Premier Bluebird got away mid-pack in fifth early while Sunday Swagger (Marcus Miller) grabbed early command through a quarter of :27.4. Sunday Swagger trotted to a half of :56.3 before Dan D Man Can (Atlee Bender) steamrolled first-over to move alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.4 with Premier Bluebird in tow from fifth. Dan D Man Can put away Sunday Swagger turning for home before Premier Bluebird gathered up steam, trotting home in :28.1 to roll to the lead and win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4. Dan D Man Can held sway for second, with Bravo Alpha (Tim Tetrick) shaking loose late for third.
Trained by Zach Miller, who also co-owns along with Indiana's Ted Comerford, Marvin Schwartz and Dessa Miller, Premier Bluebird brought his seasonal record to 13-6-3-0. The effort was a lifetime best for the Pilot Discretion-Winery Hanover colt that was a $6,250 bargain buy at last fall’s Hoosier Classic Sale who has now banked $252,380. Premier Bluebird was bred by Daryl Miller and Dennis Bontrager. He paid $12.20 to win.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Miracle Maven delivered a dominant performance in the sophomore filly trot, rewarding the bettors who backed her as the even-money favourite. Miracle Maven and driver John De Long tucked in the pocket early, racing behind stablemate Better Takem (Jordan Ross), who swept to the top from post nine through a quarter of :27.3. Swan Jewel (Atlee Bender) was unable to find a seat on the first turn before driving to the lead on the backstretch just prior to the half, when Miracle Maven went on the offensive at that point in :56.1. Miracle Maven stormed to the top when De Long kicked out the earplugs and opened up her lead to four lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.3. The lead only grew from there as Miracle Maven romped by 5-1/4 lengths on the wire in 1:53.3 over Martz Seven (Kyle Wilfong) and A Million Dances (Mike Oosting).
Henry Graber Jr. trains the winning daughter of Dont Letem-Bad Babysitter for owners Hillside Stables of Dundee, Ohio, Indiana Stables of Monroe, Indiana, Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey and Beasty of Las Vegas, Nevada. Bred by Noah Wickey, Miracle Maven’s sophomore record stands at 10-6-1-2, with earnings of $404,116 on the year. Miracle Maven paid $4.20 to win.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Odds On Mr Mamba put an exclamation point on his two-year-old campaign, following up his 1:47.4 world record performance last week with a dominant Super Final score as the 1-20 favourite. Dexter Dunn was once again in the bike, putting Odds On Mr Mamba on the point through an opening quarter of :27.1 before tapping the brakes to the halfway point in :56.2. Dancing Dreamer (David Miller) moved first-over to engage the leader on the far turn, pacing into second 1-1/2 lengths back at three-quarters in 1:24.2. Accelerating quickly on the lead, Odds On Mr Mamba uncorked a :26 final quarter with a motionless Dunn in the bike along for the ride as the favourite moved away from the field by 4-1/4 lengths on the wire in 1:50.2. Pocket-sitter What Nooo Waaay (John De Long) edged out Dancingdreamer for the second position.
After a fourth-place effort in his debut, Odds On Mr Mamba has reeled off seven straight to conclude his two-year-old season, racking up $436,552 for owner Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Florida, who also bred the Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman gelding. Odds On Mr Mamba is trained by Melanie Wrenn. He returned $2.10 to win at the betting windows.
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
On To Norway immediately followed suit behind the rookie sensation, delivering his 17th consecutive victory in the three-year-old colt trot. Leaving from post two, On To Norway got away third with Eugene The Genius (Dexter Dunn) clearing to the top at the quarter in :27.2. John De Long moved On To Norway at the quarter, trotting to the lead on the backstretch before reaching the half in :55.4. The 1-9 bettors’ choice opened up by 2-1/2 lengths on the way to three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Operator (Kyle Wilfong) racing to the outside of Eugene The Genius in second. On To Norway continued to separate from his rivals in the stretch, cruising across the wire in 1:52.2, 3-1/4 lengths in front of Eugene The Genius, who got the better of Operator for second.
On To Norway finished second in his three-year-old debut before reeling off his 17 straight wins for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey, Black And White Stable, of Milroy, Indiana and Michael Rosenthal of Las Vegas, Nevada. Bennett Farms Inc. of MI bred the Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding, who has earned $590,732 this year. On To Norway paid $2.10 to win.
The win was one of five on the night for John De Long, who tacked on $69,444 consolation wins with the Dylan Davis-trained Bellsforall ($73, 1:54) and Roger Welch-campaigned Saba Rock ($5.40, 1:51.3) to go along with his trio of Super Finals.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Trace Tetrick and Tyler George bookended the Super Finals on the night, taking the three-year-old filly pace with Miss Fancy Nancy. Miss Fancy Nancy got away in sixth with CC Rockin Rosie (Yannick Gingras) rocketing to the lead with a :25.3 opening quarter. Tarshish (Marcus Miller) popped the pocket and assumed the lead prior to the half of :55.4 before she opened up by five lengths on the far turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:23.4 while Miss Fancy Nancy had 6-1/4 lengths to make up from second-over in fifth. The strides of Tarshish began to shorten in the stretch while Miss Fancy Nancy picked up steam, motoring home in :27.1 to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. Wunderkindbluechip (Atlee Bender) rallied for second at 25-1, with Vel Cinderella (Kyle Wilfong) finishing third.
The winning daughter of JK Endofanera-Singit Like Aretha is owned by Tonya Nichols of London, Ohio, Joe Sbrocco of Brecksville, Ohio, Vip Internet Stable of Piscataway, New Jersey and Jaf Racing of Staten Island, New York. Miss Fancy Nancy has won eight of her 14 starts at three after going winless in a pair of races at two, banking $365,746 this season. Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder bred the winner. Miss Fancy Nancy paid $6.20 to win.
Aged Finals
Tetrick and George also tacked on an aged final, winning the $97,222 Mare Pace in front end fashion with Rollin Rosie ($4.20) over Kobes Gigi (Yannick Gingras) and Teelatini (John De Long) in 1:50.2. It was the fist Sire Stakes title for the five-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera-Rock N Roll Baby, who has earned $935,029 in her career for George and co-owners SCP Stables of Canton, Georgia and Greg Samples of Indianapolis, Indiana.
The night got underway with Ponda Jet ($3) picking up his first Sire Stakes title with a wire-to-wire, 3-3/4-length romp over Flagman (Luke Plano) and Helpfirstedition (David Miller) in 1:51.3 to take the $97,222 Aged Male Trot. Jay Hochsteter trains the five-year-old gelded son of Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady, who has banked $879,256 for owners Connie Hochstetler of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Robert Buddig of Hinsdale, Illinois and Allen Schwartz of Chicago, Illinois.
Yo Beth D ($7.60) overcame the second tier and spotting M Ms Dream (Yannick Gingras) 5-1/2 lengths at three-quarters to take the $69,444 Mare Trot in 1:53.2 for trainer Ken Rucker. M Ms Dream held for second with Country Mamma (David Miller) finishing third. Yo Beth D earned the second Sire Stakes crown of her career and the five-year-old daughter of Helpisontheway-Scented Roses now boasts lifetime earnings of $663,870 for owner Twoforone Stable of Ligonier, Indiana.
Buzzsaw Russ ($4.40) and Dexter Dunn followed suit with a 1:48.4 pocket-rocket score in the $69,444 Male Pace over Coach Stefanos (Marcus Miller) and M Ms Bud (Jay Cross) for his second Sire Stakes title. Trained by Missy Essig for owners Russ Beeman of Anderson, Indiana and Charles Weaver of Marion, Indiana, the winning five-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser has banked $956,314 lifetime.
Racing concludes for the week at Hoosier Park on Saturday, Oct. 11, with a 14-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Saturday card will feature five Indiana Sire Stakes consolations.
(With files from Hoosier Park; photo of On To Norway winning on Oct. 10)