The final week of preliminary Indiana Sires Stakes action continued on Wednesday (Oct. 2) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
Wednesday was the fillies’ turn, as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by two divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies and two divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies. While the night started with a victory from heavy favourite Grand Swan, minor upsets prevailed in the final divisions when Haylie Ivy, Seventimesacharm and Foxy Rigger found the winner’s circle. All of the evening’s winners stamped their tickets into the $250,000 season culminating Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals that are slated for Oct. 11.
The stakes action kicked off with another impressive performance from Grand Swan, who took advantage of Hoosier Park’s quarter-mile stretch to overcome her competitors. She crossed the wire 3-1/4 lengths in front for trainer-driver LeWayne Miller and recorded lifetime win 15 from 22 starts.
Though Grand Swan was the post-time favourite, Tatiana Romanova and Trace Tetrick grabbed the early lead to dictate opening fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 while the rest of the field sorted out early positions. At three-quarters in 1:26.2, the betting public’s second choice, Sophia Lia (John DeLong), applied first-over pressure on the leading Tatiana Romanova with Grand Swan perfectly placed second-over. Miller tipped Grand Swan around tiring cover, and she surged three lengths ahead of the field, stopping the clock in 1:54.0 and paying $2.40 to win. She was followed by a fast-charging Always Be With You (Mike Oosting) in second, and Sophia Lia hanging on for third.
“We got the ideal trip tonight, but she can race any way,” Miller noted after the win. “It’s been business as usual with her, even with the final coming up. I haven’t changed a thing.”
Grand Swan, a daughter of Swan For All and Queen Mum, now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $417,500 for owners Grand Swan Racing, Go Fast Stable and Never 2 Late Stable. The filly was bred by Larry Miller.
The second division for trotting fillies brought a slight upset by Jamie Macomber trainee Haylie Ivy. Ricky Macomber Jr. guided the filly to the winner’s circle for her first stakes victory in 1:54:1.
When the gate opened, LeWayne Miller guided Swanind Fastlane to the lead, looking for a stakes double on the card while even-money favourite Measuredperfection (Tetrick) grabbed the pocket seat through opening fractions of :28.3 and :57.2. Just before the third quarter in 1:26.1, Measuredperfection was on top, but Haylie Ivy had ranged up to engage the leader first-over. Neither filly appeared to give an inch, but ultimately Haylie Ivy dug in gamely to finish a quarter length ahead of Measuredperfection. Summit City Swan (Brandon Bates) rallied for third. Haylie Ivy paid $9.00.
“The trip didn’t really go as planned,” driver Macomber revealed in the winner’s circle. “She races well either way, but I wanted to be covered up so she could follow a helmet. You can’t really be picky with post eight. She’s been getting better with every start — hopefully that’s the case for next week as well.”
Haylie Ivy is a daughter of Airzoom Lindy and Helium and was bred by Paul Webb. This was her seventh win of 17 lifetime starts and she now sports a lifetime bankroll of $114,580 for owners Leander Schwartz, Eleven Star Stables and Jamie Macomber.
The first division for the freshaen pacing fillies brought Jesse DeLong homebred Seventimesacharm to the winner’s circle, where she recorded a new lifetime best of 1:51.1. Trained and driven by John DeLong, the filly turned in a gate-to-wire performance to record her second stakes victory of the season.
Seventimesacharm grabbed the lead as soon as the gate opened while Genie Rockwell (James Yoder) settled in the second position. Seventimesacharm clicked off fractions of :27.2 and :55.2 before being challenged on the outside by Atoritotell (Dale Hiteman). Once the field turned for home, Seventimesacharm was able to put away Atoritotell and also hold off a late surge from Somebodyslilly (Oosting). Somebodyslilly’s effort paid off with a second-place finish, and Bluebird Love (Todd Warren) rallied for third. Seventimesacharm paid $7.60 to win.
Seventimesacharm, a daughter of Always A Virgin and Mrs Grant Seven, has won three of 10 lifetime starts and now sports a lifetime bankroll of $86,885.
In the final stakes division, Brian Brown trainee Foxy Rigger grabbed back-to-back stakes wins with regular driver Trace Tetrick in the bike. In gate-to-wire fashion, Foxy Rigger asserted her authority and bested her rivals to stop the clock in 1:51.4.
Foxy Rigger went straight to the front as soon as the gate opened, followed closely by Odds On Melanie (Peter Wrenn). Foxy Rigger held her lead unchallenged, clocking fractions of :27.3, :56 and 1:24.2 while Odds On Melanie still followed intently in second. With a six-race win-streak on the line, Sam Widger was unable to wait any longer and had Grace Rocks on the attack first-over rounding the final turn.
By the time the field reached the stretch, Foxy Rigger had established an almost two-length lead on the field and maintained her lead all the way to the finish using a :27.2 final quarter. Odds On Melanie held on for second while Grace Rocks was forced to settle for third. Foxy Rigger paid $11.40 to win.
“She raced well tonight and was nice to handle,” Tetrick mentioned after the victory. “She’s come a long way in a short period of time. She did everything that I asked her to do. She’s a versatile filly.”
Foxy Rigger, a daughter of Riggins and Foxy Angel, was bred by Wilker Family Farms. With this being lifetime win seven in eight starts, she now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $157,375 for owners Country Club Acres and L&H Management Services, Lombardo/Green Racing and Timothy Lane.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday (Oct. 3) with two divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings and two divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The evening’s live racing card will be highlighted by a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 in races three through six and a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in race 14.
(Harrah's Hoosier Park)