The week of Indiana Sire Stakes action continued at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday (Oct. 3) with the final leg for both the sophomore trotting colts and rookie pacing colts. Three $62,838 divisions of the sixth leg for pacing colts took to the track, while a pair of divisions for trotting colts was highlighted by a triumphant return to the Hoosier State for Gruesome Twosome.
Returning from an appearance in the Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk in his last outing, Gruesome Twosome was tabbed at the 1-9 bettors’ choice in his $66,892 split. Trainer and driver Daryl Bontrager got away fifth in the field of six on the first turn with Gruesome Twosome as Raylan Drew (Mike Oosing) took the field to the quarter in :27.4. Gruesome Twosome did his best to follow the backstretch brush of Dashing Danny (Kyle Wilfong) who assumed command at the half in :57.2, while the favourite was now left first-over in third. Dashing Danny scampered away by two on the turn to reach three-quarters first in 1:26 as Gruesome Twosome moved into second on the outside, a touch on the right line on the final bend. Gruesome Twosome straightened out in the lane, powering home in :27.2 to get by Dashing Danny in deep stretch and reach the wire first 1-1/4 lengths in front of the divisional points leader in 1:53.4. Flirtnwiththepilot (Pete Wrenn) rallied for the show spot.
Daryl Bontrager also co-owns the son of You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go with Ira Steinberg. A winner in six of 10 in his sophomore campaign, Gruesome Twosome has earned $239,434 this season and now over $460,000 for his career following the victory.
The $67,568 first division for trotting colts saw A Blue Million and driver Mike Peterson scamper up the passing lane to pull an 11-1 upset victory. The complexion of the race changed early as 4-5 favourite CS Flying Co-Pilot jumped it off behind the gate, meanwhile 20-1 shot Ira Who (Jared Finn) grabbed command through a lukewarm opening quarter of :29 with A Blue Million in the pocket. Ira Who had things his way to the half in :58.1 before 2-1 second-choice Winslow (Dan Shetler) surged first-over to the outside of Ira Who entering the final turn, with the duo sprinting four lengths clear of A Blue Million to three-quarters in 1:26.3. Winslow had powered clear in the lane before going off stride midway through the stretch, leaving A Blue Million and a closing Helpem Dance (Ricky Macomber Jr.) to settle it amongst themselves. The two trotted to the wire together, with A Blue Million reaching the wire first by a neck in 1:55.2. Knowyoucando (Kyle Wilfong) recovered from an early break of his own to finish third.
Leander Schwartz trains the gelded son of Swan In A Million-IPO Blue Chip who has won six of 15 outings on the season. Owned by Jeffrey and Stephen Stoll, A Blue Million has made $134,262 on the season and $149,026 lifetime following his 11th career victory.
The two-year-old colt pacers kicked off their stakes affairs on the evening with a price as well, with Spirt And Heart and Trace Tetrick scoring at 12-1. Leaving from post four, Spirt And Heart quickly grabbed command of the field of eight to the quarter in :27.4 with 3-5 favourite Odds On Brahmastra (Pete Wrenn) in the pocket. Unchallenged to the half in :56.4, Spirt And Hear paced 2-1/2 lengths clear on the turn to three-quarters in 1:25. With both Odds On Brahmastra and Big Bad Moses (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallying to his inside, Spirt And Heart displayed both in the stretch, reaching the wire a neck in front of Odds On Brahmastra in 1:52.1.
A winner in four of seven this season, Spirt And Heart is owned and trained by Eli Schwartz. The son of Luck Be Withyou-So Long My Love was a $4,000 yearling buy at last fall’s Hoosier Classic and now sports earnings of $58,311.
Form returned in the second division with Chandler Bing marching to his third straight victory of the season with driver Jay Cross as the 1-5 favourite. Chandler Bing was a fired up fourth on the first turn as Hopeyaliketheshow (Trace Tetrick) surged to an early lead to the opening quarter in :27.1. Cross fed Chandler Bing racetrack on the backstretch, but was briefly forced three-wide as Odds On Anubis (Pete Wrenn) squeezed out in front of the favourite before thundering to the front of the field at the half in :55.4. With his traffic troubles clearing entering the final turn, Cross turned Chandler Bing loose, powering around Odds On Anubis to the lead by 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:24 . Building a 4-1/2 length lead at the eighth-pole, Chandler Bing had enough cushion to fend off Hopeyaliketheshow who shook loose late by three parts of a length in 1:51.1. Dereks Rocket (LeWayne Miller) rallied for third at 64-1.
Trained by Alvin Miller, who co-owns with Twila Harts, Chandler Bing has won half of his eight outings in his rookie campaign, banking $124,984. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Northern Beauty was bred by Glen Yoder and was a $29,000 yearling buy at the Hoosier Classic.
Hall of Fame driver Yannick Gingras made the trip to Anderson well worth it, steering Avanti to victory in the third and final division for pacing colts. The 3-5 choice from post two, Gingras guided Avanti into third early while The Family Man (Mike Oosting) strayed from his usual late-closing tactics to cut the quarter in :26.4. Gingras brushed Avanti to the lead on the backstretch, however the freshman was a tad hesitant to clear before crossing back over to the pylons through a half of :56.2. Reaching three-quarters in 1:25, Avanti sprinted away in the lane, coasting to victory by 1-1/2 lengths over The Family Man in 1:52. Special Pete (LeWayne Miller) uncorked his usual stretch rally for the show spot.
Avanti entered the evening fresh off of a Grand Circuit score in his last, winning the $135,135 Elevation on Sept. 20. Missy Essig trains the son of Rockin Image-Sayulita for owners Rocco Ruffolo and Fac Racing. A winner in three of 11 on the year, Avanti boasts earning of $183,318.
Indiana Sire Stakes action concludes for the week on Friday, Oct. 4 with the eighth and final leg for both the sophomore pacing colts and fillies. The first of two divisions for pacing colts will see Sabonis go for his 13th straight victory on the season, while Tellmeitmatters returns off a two-month layoff in the second division in search of his sixth straight victory. Fantastic filly Lets Go Endofaera headlines the two divisions for pacing fillies, looking for her seventh straight following a victory in the $101,351 Carl Becker Memorial in her last outing.
The Friday card gets underway with a $10,000 guaranteed Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) featuring a carryover of $2,729.19. There will also be a $10,000 guarantee on the Hoosier High 5 in the race 14 finale. Free programs for the Friday card are available on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website, first post is 6:15 p.m.
Friday night also marks the end of the preliminary rounds of Indiana Sire Stakes for all two- and three-year olds, with the $250,000 USD Super Finals slated for Hoosier Champions Night on Friday, Oct. 11. The top-10 points earners from each division qualify for their respective final, there will also be four $70,000 USD Sire Stakes Finals for each of the four aged divisions on Hoosier Champions.
(Hoosier Park)