Sophomore sensation On To Norway continued his Indiana onslaught, reeling off his 18th consecutive victory as the headliner in Pegasus action during the Friday, Oct. 17 program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
In the lone $63,380 division for sophomore trotting colts, On To Norway left from post six with pilot John De Long as the 1-9 favourite. On To Norway floated away in fourth early while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) trotted to the top through a :27.4 opening quarter. Operator tapped the brakes to the half in :56.4 when On To Norway launched his first-over bid, moving to the leader’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.2. The rivals dropped the gloves in the stretch with On To Norway grabbing a short advantage in the lane while Operator refused to go away. On To Norway trotted home in :27.1 to get to the wire a half-length ahead of a dead-game Operator in 1:52.4. It was 6-1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Sure Did (LeWayne Miller).
Trained by Ron Burke, On To Norway has won 18 of his 19 starts on the year while banking $622,422 for 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.
Driver Atlee Bender swept both $28,169 Pegasus splits for three-year-old filly pacers, taking the first with Wunderkindbluechip ($17.40) in 1:51.3 for trainer Erv Miller before taking the second with Baret ($8.80) in 1:50.3 for Brett Pelling.
The two $30,986 three-year-old colt pacing divisions featured a pair of pocket-rocket upset winners, with the first going to Deal The Odds ($22) in 1:49.1 with Joey Putnam doing the driving for his father, Joe. Meanwhile, Chandler Bing ($17.60) delivered a 1:49.4 victory in the second with Jay Cross driving for trainer Alvin Miller.
Better Takem ($7) crushed on the front end in the $28,169 first division for three-year-old trotting fillies in 1:54.2 with Jordan Ross driving for Henry Graber Jr. The $30,986 second split went to Fifty To Win ($5.80), also in 1:54.2, after a pocket trip for the father and son combination of Marcus and Erv Miller.
The week of racing concludes at Hoosier Park with a nine-race program on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a first post of 5:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)