Yo Beth D captured her third Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) title by completing a sweep of the aged trotting mare series with a victory in the $107,143 final on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Hoosier Park.
Yo Beth D headed straight for the lead for driver Kyle Wilfong, trotting swiftly past Miracle Maven (John De Long) to the quarter in :28.2. On the first turn, Yo Beth D was at the helm with Miracle Maven second, Er Kelly (LeWayne Miller) third and Delta Blues (Robert Taylor) bringing up the rear. The order remained unchanged throughout the backstretch at the halfway mark in :57.3 and at three-quarters in 1:26.1. Yo Beth D separated herself from her fellow trotters into the stretch, stopping the timer at 1:53.2 with an edge of 1-3/4 lengths. Miracle Maven was second, with Er Kelly third.
Yo Beth D visited the winner’s circle for the sixth time this year in 15 starts for owner Twoforone Stable and trainer Ken Rucker. Bred by John Schmucker, the six-year-old Helpisontheway-Scented Roses mare increased her lifetime earnings to $944,066 with her 27th tally from 102 starts.
The four-horse contest was held as a non-betting event before the main card.
INSS Consolations
Hoosier Park also held four $71,429 INSS consolations on the 14-race card.
Rockinthefreeworld ($16.20) gave driver Brandon Bates one of five wins on the night in the opener, the rookie pacing filly consolation. The Henry Graber Jr. trainee stormed down the lane to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53. The Rockin Image-Stella Z Tam filly is owned by Indiana Stables LLC, Graber, Kiwi Stables LLC and Zippett Racing Stable. Rockinthefreeworld has tallied $73,290 in lifetime earnings with two wins from 11 outings.
Bates also won with Caviart Eden ($68.80), Eugene The Genius ($7.40), Sallysmokingun ($2.80) and Aye Aye Capt Russ ($2.80). The reinsman is now 155-for-1,313 on the year.
Finish Big ($3.40), piloted and trained by Robert Taylor, picked up the lead from the halfway mark and stayed in control rest of the way to win the consolation for two-year-old trotting fillies 1:57 by 1-1/2 lengths. Finish Big is owned by Derek Knepp, Adrian Yoder and Taylor Racing LLC. Boosting her lifetime earnings to $99,002, the Dont Letem-Fuzzy Angel filly won for the third time in nine starts.
Let B Express ($4.40), driven by Kevin Lambright for trainer Robert Reeser, reached the front before the half and went on to a 1:56.1 score by three-quarters of a length in the rookie male trot consolation. The Dont Letem-Liebchen gelding scored his third win of his career and raised his bankroll to $71,280 in his 11th start. Let B Express is owned by Twoforone Stable.
For Heavens Sake ($2.80), driven by John De Long for trainer Jeff Edwards, stayed hot in another impressive display, taking down the sophomore trotting distaff consolation in 1:54.2 by 3-1/2 lengths. The Swan For All-Supergirl Riley filly, owned by Denise Dennis, has earned $117,730 and won six of 17 lifetime outings.
Open Pace
Always B Naughty ($4.80), driven by Austin Hanners for trainer Todd Luther, wired the six-horse field in the $31,429 Open Handicap Pace. She put up a 1:51.2 mile while winning by three-quarters of a length. The six-year-old Always B Miki-Ooh Shesa Badlands mare has now earned $1,207,984. The 2025 Breeders Crown champion, a 23-time winner from 76 starts, is owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC.
Trainer Michael Miller earned his first lifetime win as Whole Lotta Luck ($9.60) used a pocket trip to perfection to win the 10th race by three-quarters of a length. Brad Ferguson drove the five-year-old daughter of Luck Be Withyou-Arroya Blue Chip to the 1:53.4 score for Miller and owner Joel Bontrager. Miller, of Syracuse, Ind., made his debut in September and is now 1-0-0 for nine.
Live racing at Hoosier Park resumes on Wednesday with 10-horse fields set for all but one race in the 14-dash card. The program has 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)