Sophomore trotters were featured in $30,000 Circle City events over a sloppy track on Thursday (Oct. 19) at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with Tactical Mounds and Scott Zeron taking the spotlight with a 1:53.3 score in the second of two divisions for fillies.
Yo Beth D, a 33-1 shot, left bravely to quickly take the lead, followed by Helpoftheseason and Swan Fancy, with Tactical Mounds three-wide before settling mid-pack in a :27.4 first quarter. Yo Beth D floated in the lead through a :56.2 half and was still in command cutting three-quarters in 1:25.4.
Tactical Mounds made the stretch her landing strip as Zeron let her trot freely and, without urging, she passed a closing Southwind Cherry and the rest drawing away and clocking the mile in 1:53.3. Helpoftheseason was second best and Southwind Cherry took third.
Megan Scran trains Tactical Mounds, a six-time winner in 17 starts, for TheStable Tactical Mounds.
Call Me Goo was tons the best in the first filly division. Tim Tetrick did not wait long to guide the 1-5 public choice to the top, passing Picaboo Lady in a :28.2 first quarter. Call Me Goo led the rest of the way unchallenged in a :57.1 half and 1:25.1 three-quarters, floating home first in 1:54.2.
Trained by Jason Skinner, the daughter of Googoo Gaagaa was followed home by Picaboo Lady and Swinging Senorita. Graham Grace Stables owns Call Me Goo, who has now earned $284,297 with her 10th win in 13 starts. She paid $2.60 to win.
In the lone Circle City division for male trotters, a mild upset in the field of seven emerged when Bestfriend Volo splashed through the stretch for driver Scott Zeron in a 1:54.1 mile.
Bestfriend Volo left well but was shuffled back quickly, first by Little Expensive, then farther back by Help Page and was forced to sit mid-pack when John Dutton caught the bunch and stayed in command through fractions of :27.4, :56.3 and 1:26.1. Bestfriend Volo shook loose in the stretch to drive home with a ton of trot left and win in 1:54.1. Little Expensive held for second and John Dutton clutched the third spot.
Nancy Takter trains Bestfriend Volo, a Walner colt. Christina and Nancy Takter, 3 Brothers Stables and Deja Blu own the winner, who paid $13.20 to win. His fourth win in 10 starts at three increased his bankroll to $89,250.
Jet Hill also scored as the public choice with a first-over brush and then held off a late push from Ponda Jet to win the second division for sophomore trotting colts in 1:53.4. The gelding by What The Hill floated away fourth from post seven to a :27.1 first quarter set by Black Magic. Ponda Jet soon circled off the pegs from third to take the lead up the backstretch, but soon yielded control to Jet Hill after a :56.2 half. Rose Run Yorick followed Jet Hill’s move and remained alongside the leader through to three-quarters in 1:25 before Jet Hill reaccelerated for home. Ponda Jet stayed close in tow and took aim at the leader in the open stretch though just fell a quarter-length short of the game winner. Black Magic finished another three lengths behind in third and Texsong Soprano, off a second-over trip, took fourth.
Edward Miller trains Jet Hill, an 11-time winner from 19 starts with $465,275 in the bank, for owner Serenity Racing Stables. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove the $5 winner.
Favourites dominate in Circle City paces
The betting dollars did not disappoint on its targets in the Circle City divisions for sophomore pacers on Thursday night at Hoosier Park with three of the four winners receiving top dollar and finding the winner’s circle.
Dynamite Dylan, the only non-favourite to win, darted up the open stretch to a 1:51 victory in the first Circle City division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. The Brian Brown trainee landed on the point to a :27 first quarter before relinquishing the lead to even-money favourite Burnout before a :55.1 half. Riding from the pocket through the final turn to three-quarters in 1:23.1, Dynamite Dylan dashed up the inside to grab the lead from The Real Way as he stalled off his second-over rally in mid-stretch. Dynamite Dylan snagged victory in the last sixteenth to pull three-quarters of a length in front at the beam with Liteningonthebeach in third.
A colt by Downbytheseaside, Dynamite Dylan has now won five races from 19 starts and banked $104,827 for owners David and John Prushnok. David Miller drove the $5.60 winner.
Tells On A Roll powered first-over to deliver as the 2-5 choice in the opening division for sophomore pacing fillies with a 1:51.1 win. Driver Dexter Dunn settled into fourth with the Tyler George trainee while Walkin On Sunshine swooped from the outermost post to lead the field by a :26.4 first quarter. Walkin On Sunshine continued on the lead through a :55.3 half, where Dunn tipped Tells On A Roll off the pegs and began to roll uncovered to three-quarters in 1:23.2. Tells On A Roll dug into Walkin On Sunshine all through the stretch to just edge three-quarters of a length in front in the closing strides. Cantgetuoutamymind, a 58-1 shot, rode the pocket to finish third and Kassagi took fourth.
Winning her eighth race from 22 starts, Tells On A Roll – a daughter of Tellitlikeitis – has now banked $309,006 for owners Engel Stable of Illinois LLC, Louis Willinger and T G Stable LLC. She paid $2.60 to win.
Strengthfromabove raced headstrong but secured a pocket ride, from which he pounced and nabbed a 1:50.3 victory in the second division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. Driver Yannick Gingras launched the even-money favourite for the lead from post four and cleared control by a :27.1 opening quarter. Racing Rampage swung out of third up the backside to move for the lead, of which driver Yannick Gingras seesawed and wrangled Strengthfromabove for a two-hole ride by a :55 half. Strengthfromabove maintained interest through the final turn as Racing Rampage rolled to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and with ease shot to the lead in the lane through the open stretch and pulled clear to a length victory. Racing Rampage held second from a fast-closing David Allen Whoa with Bamboozler left in fourth.
Strengthfromabove won his fourth race from 30 starts and has now earned $195,447 for owner Save The Day Stable. Melissa Essig trains the $4.20 winner.
Odds-on choice Rollin Rosie jogged in the finale to a 1:51.4 victory under wraps in the second division for sophomore pacing fillies. Getting away second to a :27 first quarter, Trace Tetrick sent Rollin Rosie for the front entering the backstretch and gradually bid farewell to her competition. She strolled to the half in :55.4 and widened her lead to three-quarters in 1:24 before cinching the open-length victory under a firm hold with Queens Reign grabbing second up the inside. Shadowrage closed down the center for third and Trsshining Star faded to fourth.
Rollin Rosie won her 13th race from 16 starts and has now earned $430,770 for owners SCP Stable Inc., Scott Tyler George and Gregory Samples. Tyler George trains the daughter of JK Endofanera who paid $2.20 to win.
(Harrah's Hoosier Park)