Letters From Home and driver Mark O’Mara made a bold impact on the first leg of the Future Stars series at Hoosier Park Friday, March 27
. The duo crossed under the wire in a convincing 1:54.4 to take home the largest part of the $6,000 purse.
Starting from Post 1 in the 10-horse field, Letters From Home used his inside advantage to take the lead early, passing by fractional poles in splits of :28.0, :58.4, and 1:27.4. In the stretch, the Cape Crusader gelding was ready for a challenge, and Theorys Hero with Ricky Macomber Jr. were there to apply the pressure. However, Letters From Home could not be touched. The five-year-old rolled on home to the victory, his second in five outings for 2009. Despite a :26.2 final quarter, Theorys Hero had to settle for second over Funky Cole Medina and Trace Tetrick for third.
“This is the first time I’ve driven him, so I just wanted to feel him out,” said O’Mara of Letters From Home. “He wanted to leave, and did so fairly easy. He’s still a little inexperienced, but raced very well.”
Letters From Home returned $5.20, $3.80, and $2.40 across the board as the race favourite. He now possesses more than $12,000 in career earnings for owner Lynn and Brett Wilfong of Kentland, Indianda and Donovan, Illinois, respectively. Dan Dubeansky serves as the trainer for Letters From Home.
A total of four divisions of the Future Stars series were contested on the 12-race card. Other divisional winners included Boogilee Boogilee and Tetrick in a time of 1:54.3, DDs Prince and Andy Shetler in a time of 1:56.2, and Indys Z Tam with driver Bill Dailey along for the ride in a time of 1:55.3.
The Future Stars series for horses and geldings that are non winners of two races or $10,000 lifetime will return for the second leg Friday, April 3. The top 10 series money-earning horses will return for the $15,000 final Friday, April 17.
(Hoosier)