The 2023 Indiana Sires Stakes program will culminate at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, Oct. 13 with the $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals.
The star-studded 15-race card will showcase the best trotters and pacers in the state of Indiana and provide an exciting conclusion to the 2023 Indiana stakes season. The annual Hoosier Champions Night will be part of an action-packed month of racing as Grand Circuit racing action will return the very next week with Breeders Crown eliminations.
With purses in excess of $1.8 million, the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Night will be the richest night offered in the Indiana Sires Stakes program this season featuring six $250,000 finals. The two- and three-year-olds competing in the Super Finals have accumulated points throughout the season, based on performance in the previous legs, and the top point earners have earned the right to seek glory in the $250,000 finals. Complimenting the program will be four divisions for the aged competitors.
The $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals will start in the third race on the program with a field of 10 three-year-old trotting fillies. Naturdays and driver Matt Krueger have been enlisted as the 8-5 morning line choice from post five. The daughter of Helpisontheway-
Teelatini will look to continue her divisional dominance in the two-year-old pacing filly final from post four for trainer Roger Welch and driver Peter Wrenn. Teelatini has won six of eight lifetime starts and has never finished worse than second. The homebred daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap has amassed $267,348 this season.
Why Not Now will look to extend his win streak to four in the $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Starting from post two with Dexter Dunn listed to drive, Why Not Now has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning line choice for trainer Dylan Davis. The son of Always A Virgin-Star Of The Show has won seven of 13 this season including the $135,500 Jennas Beach Boy in a lifetime-best time of 1:48.2.
To complement the evening’s racing action, racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of guaranteed wagers offered on the evening’s 15-race card. A $7,500 guaranteed early Pick 5 pool will be available in Races 1-5 along with a $20,000 guaranteed late Pick-4 pool in races 12-15 and a $15,000 guaranteed Hoosier-High-5 in the last race of the program. The guaranteed wagers are available through the cooperative efforts of the United States Trotting Association, Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and the Indiana Standardbred Association.
Along with the live racing action, guests can enter at a Trackside Promotional kiosk beginning at 5 p.m. for their chance to win a $100 mega bet to be placed on any of the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals. Additionally, guests can check in at any promotional kiosk to receive a free Hoosier Champions chair while supplies last.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park will also host a cocktail reception for owners with horses racing in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Terrace.
The first race will line-up behind the gate at 6:15 p.m. The stakes filled weekend is part of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s 2023 Championship Meet, which features a record-breaking $15 million stakes schedule. The 12-week championship stretch, which kicked off on Friday, Aug. 11 with the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, will offer an unparalleled series of high caliber stakes races, culminating with the Breeders Crown championship races, which will return to Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.
(Harrah's Hoosier Park)