Freshman colt and filly trotters were featured Friday night, October 14 in the third round of Indiana Sires Stakes action at Indiana Downs
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Favorites captured four of five divisions on the card, with the fastest mile turned in by Trottin Tiger. Trained by Mark Gillenwater and driven by Sam Widger, the Mossy Oak-Capryz Kelvin gelding romped by more than 13 lengths in 1:59.1.
Drawing Post 4 in his $40,000 division, Trottin Tiger and Widger got away fourth at the start as Fromdownunder Ivy and Trace Tetrick assumed command and set early fractions of :29 and :59.2. Widger had the favourite out and moving before the half, a head back of the leader at three-quarters (1:29.4). Trottin Tiger pounced, opening up by 10 lengths at the top of the stretch and cruised to the wire to collect his sixth win in 11 seasonal starts. Fromdownunder Ivy finished second followed by This Kid Rocks. Bred by Paul Schmucker, Trottin Tiger is owned by Gillenwater and Kevin McKinney. The gelding increased his earnings to $173,200 this season.
Heavily-favoured Dontfusswithruss moved to the top after a :28.3 opening panel and never looked back, winning his $40,000 division by four lengths in 1:59.2. Joe Essig Jr. piloted the Elegant Man-ML Jezebel gelding for trainer Roger Cullipher. What Ideal followed, with Wayland Ivy trotting third. Bred and owned by Jacalyn Beeman, Dontfusswithruss has hit the board in eight of 12 starts, racking up five wins. The gelding has earned $116,810 in 2011, setting an Indiana Downs track record with a 1:57 effort in his previous start.
Cincinnati Star and Trace Tetrick won the first of three $40,000 divisions for two-year-old fillies with a 2:00 performance. Competing in a non-betting contest, the Cincinnati Kid-Eastern Star Two freshman moved to the lead after a :29.4 quarter and clicked off fractions of 1:00 and 1:30.2 before crossing the wire nearly three lengths in front. Shes Country raced second as Blueridge Abigail finished third. Trained by Steve Carter and owned by Peggy Carter, Sheila Hummel, Robert Reid and Great American Stables LLC, Cincinnati Star has won 11 of 15 starts. The filly, bred by Double Spring Farm, improved her earnings to $235,810.
Sweetasmusic and trainer Walter Haynes Jr. dispatched their rivals by 10 lengths in their $40,000 division for trotting fillies. Taking command before the half, the favourites pulled away to win in a time of 2:00. Love Your Trot and Pretty Ann Savage rounded out the trifecta. The Gut Instinct-Music In Motion filly is owned by Haynes and Michael Brown. Bred by John Stoll and Phillip Wittmer, Sweetasmusic picked up her second win in 11 starts. The filly has earned $117,100 in 2011.
Trainer Robert Taylor and My Sweet Shiela trotted home in :30.2 to win their division for fillies in 2:00.2. The Southwind Elian-Debs Dalliance freshman overtook favoured Antie M in the stretch to win for the third time this season. Flatrockecho followed Antie M to finish third. Daryl Miller bred the winner, now owned by La Bella Vita Stables.
(Indiana Downs)