Fans at Hoosier Park were treated to a stakes-filled card to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, with the main event – the $60,000 Thanksgiving Classic - featuring Ontario sensation Bulldog Hanover.
In rein to John De Long, Bulldog Hanover parked for the first half of the tilt before taking command at the mid-way point. After travelling overland through early splits of :25.3 and :54.1, the Jack Darling trainee then led past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before using a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Goldies Legacy in 1:51.4. Big Gulp was third.
It marked the fourth straight score for the son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall, who races for Jack Darling Stables Ltd and Brad Grant. The win improved his 2021 record to 10-2-1 from 15 starts while lifting his lifetime earnings to $931,061.
Kobes Gigi was a front-stepping winner in the $40,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old pacing fillies in a time of 1:52.1 for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Melissa Essig.
The daughter of JK Endofanera-Twin Oaks Tess led the field through stanzas of :26.1, :56 and 1:25.2 before jetting home in :26.4 to win by 6-3/4 lengths over DC Batgirl in 1:52.1. High Minded rounded out the Trifecta ticket in the five-filly affair.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Kobes Gigi posted her sixth win of the campaign while pushing her lifetime earnings past $200,000 for owners Leander Schwartz and Black And White Stable.
Dewtifuls Grace pulled off a 14-1 stunner in the $47,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting fillies.
With Joey Putnam at the lines, the daughter of Pine Credit-Dewtiful Lass got away fifth and held that position while heavily-favoured Pub Crawl chopped out splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.3. The favourite came under pressure late and gave way to Dewtifuls Grace in the closing strides. The upset winner fired home in :27.3 to win by a head over Pub Crawl in 1:55. Country Girl Charm was third.
Lewayne Miller trains the eight-time winner for Oakwood Farms, Kristen Wagler and Eleven Star Stables. The career winner of $181,665 now boasts a 6-9-1 record from 22 trips to the track this season.
Swingforthefences came through on his pari-mutuel promise, however, for Team Wrenn in the $54,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
The son of Swan For All-Sunday Yankee worked his way into the pocket early for driver Peter Wrenn, who then swept his charge to the lead before the half. In charge through middle panels of :57.1 and 1:27, the sophomore then used a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Platinum AS in 1:55. Brookview Bolt grabbed the show dough.
Melanie Wrenn trains the gelding for David McDuffee and L And L Devisser LLC. The win was the trotter’s 12th of the season and the 15th of his career. He’s put away over $550,000 in earnings this year and more than $680,000 to date.
JKs On The Move prevailed in the $26,500 Stringer Ball for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Trace Tetrick mapped out the winning trip for the Zachary Miller pupil who rallied for the 1:57 score.
The son of JK Endofanera-Sweet Electric got away sixth before improving to be fourth at the mid-way point. He was first over and leading at the three-quarter pole in 1:28 before using a :29-second final frame to win by a head over race favourite Topville Alexander in 1:57. Imalwaysclassy was third.
Dessa Miller and Ted Comerford share ownership on the rookie who improved his freshman record to 2-4-0 from 10 attempts. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his overall cash stash to $29,050.
.......and that concludes the
.......and that concludes the major stakes racing season for 2021. The next major stakes race will be the final of The MGM Borgata, at Yonkers Raceway, next April.