Harrah’s Hoosier Park played host to a stakes-filled card on Friday, Oct. 26 as Grand Circuit racing action made a stop at the seven-eighths mile oval for the fifth time this season. The 14-race card was highlighted by nine divisions of the Circle City Stakes for three-year-old trotters and pacers and one division of the Madison County Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
The three-year-old trotting fillies kicked off the evening’s racing action and it was Pat Matters and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. who tracked down heavily favoured Custom Cantab and Peter Wrenn in the final strides of the mile to score in 1:53.3 over a track rated 'good.' Custom Cantab did all the work on the front end while Pat Matters waited patiently in the pocket for her turn to strike.
As the field turned for home, Macomber Jr. gave his mount the green light and she utilized a :27.2 final quarter to get the win and establish a new lifetime-best in the process. As the public's second choice, Pat Matters returned $11.40 at the betting windows.
Trained by Paul Kelley, the daughter of Explosive Matter-Dibrizzi recorded her fourth seasonal win from 15 lifetime outings. Pat Matters is owned by Patricia Stable.
In the second division for three-year-old trotting fillies, it was the lone Indiana-sired filly in the field, Red Rose Swan, who went gate-to-wire to capture the $28,600 event in 1:55.4 for driver/trainer LeWayne Miller. Using a :28.4 closing kick, Red Rose Swan was able to hold off a late surge from the heavily favoured Hey Blondie and Tim Tetrick to get the win by nearly three lengths.
The daughter of Swan For All-Red Rose Kosmos recorded her fourth win of the season and second consecutive victory for owners Last Chance Racing, LeWayne Miller and C11 Racing. Red Rose Swan returned $8.60 to her backers at the betting windows.
In the final split for three-year-old trotting fillies, Live Laugh Love and driver Peter Wrenn worked out a second-over trip and coasted on to the wire five lengths in front of the field, stopping the timer in 1:54.4. Sent off as the public's third choice, Live Laugh Love returned $10.20 for the victory.
Trained by Nifty Norman, the sophomore filly notched her seventh win of the season from 16 outings. The daughter of Donato Hanover-Shes Gone Again is owned by Melvin Hartman, David McDuffee and Diamond Creek Racing.
The upset trend continued through two divisions of the Circle City Stakes for the three-year-old pacing fillies. Jewels Forreal and driver Chris Page prevailed in a tight photo over a very game Aldine Hanover and John DeLong to pull the 8-1 upset in 1:53.
Aldine Hanover, who was sent off as the post time favourite, went uncontested on the front through the three-quarters before being joined on the outside by Jewels Forreal. Aldine Hanover dug in gamely but Jewels Forreal ultimately came out on top to record her third win of the season. Jewels Forreal returned $19.20 at the betting windows for the upset.
Trained by Ron Burke, the daughter of So Surreal-Dandys Jewel is owned in partnership by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Jewels Forreal has now won six of 27 lifetime starts.
Voom Or Bang and John DeLong followed suit in the second division for three-year-old pacing fillies and staged a big rally late in the lane to pull the $14.80 upset. Voom Or Bang surged past the heavily favoured Wisdom Tree and Sam Widger and held off a late surge from Cult Icon and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. to score in 1:53.3.
Trained by Roger Welch, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Vavoom Hanover recorded her sixth win of the season from 17 trips behind the starting gate. Owned by William C. DeLong, William P. DeLong, Jesse DeLong and John DeLong, Voom Or Bang has now won nine of 29 lifetime starts.
Just when it seemed an upset trend was forming, the favourites came out on top in both divisions for the three-year-old trotting colts. After a costly break in stakes action last week, Scirocco Rob rebounded gamely to deliver as the post time favourite with Corey Callahan in the bike. Scirocco Rob made his game winning move down the backside and remained clear to the wire, scoring in 1:55.2 over Got The Groove and John DeLong.
Trained by John Butenschoen, the son of Explosive Matter-Fun At Parties recorded his fourth win of the season from 20 outings. Scirocco Rob is owned by the partnership of Lewis Whitaker Jr. and Kathleen Whitaker.
The recently crowned New York Sires Stakes champion, Helpisontheway, continued his winning ways in the second division for three-year-old trotting colts, stopping the timer in 1:55.3. With Tim Tetrick in the bike, Helpisontheway went gate-to-wire and held off a hard-charging Voss Volo and Corey Callahan to get the win by a head.
Trained by Linda Toscano, the son of Chapter Seven-Porque recorded his ninth win of the season from 15 starts and third consecutive victory. Helpisontheway is owned by Camelot Stable Inc., The Bay’s Stable LLC and Little E LLC.
Wheels On Fire turned in his own dominant performance to continue his winning ways and deliver as the post-time favourite in the $42,650 Circle City Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Wheels On Fire went gate-to-wire to record a three-length victory in 1:50.3 over GD Western Joe and Chris Page.
Wheels On Fire recorded his sixth consecutive victory this season and second consecutive Hoosier Park score. Trained by Ron Burke, the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ab Fab notched his 11th seasonal win from 17 outings for owner W.J. Donovan.
Rockinbeach, with Ricky Macomber Jr. in the bike, worked out a perfect second-over trip to capture his stakes split for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:52. Using a :26.4 final quarter, Rockin Beach surged past his rivals late in the lane and held off a fast-closing Shadow Cat and Corey Callahan to get the win by a neck.
Trained by Jamie Macomber, Rockin Beach has now won six of 20 starts as a sophomore. The son of Rockin Image-Miss Sandy Beach is owned and was bred by Wilbur Eash.
Magic Joe Lindy and Trace Tetrick staged a big rally late in the lane to capture the $66,400 Madison County Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts in 1:53.3. Magic Joe Lindy sat mid-pack for much of the mile and when Tetrick gave him the green light, he found a :26.3 closing quarter to get the victory by nearly two lengths.
The son of American Ideal-Lindys Bandita recorded his third win of the season from eight starts. Trained by Domenico Cecere, Magic Joe Lindy is owned and was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.
Stakes action continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, Oct. 27 with a 14-race card highlighted by four divisions of the Madison County Stakes for the two-year-old trotters and pacers.
(With files from Hoosier Park)