As one of only two mares in a talented field of seven, Lady Blitz pulled a stunning upset over her male counterparts in the featured event of the evening, a $21,000 Invitational Trot, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, April 18.
At odds of 39-1, Lady Blitz and James Yoder were able to wear down stablemate and the overwhelming favourite, Natural Herbie and Verlin Yoder, late in the lane to win in 1:54.4. Natural Herbie, winner of the 2014 International Trot at Yonkers Raceway and a multiple Indiana Sires Stakes champion, was making just his first start of the 2015 season.
Leaving from post four, Lady Blitz eased from the gate to find a spot along the rail in fourth. Penn and Darrel Wright were the first to get a call through a leisurely opening panel in :29. Their lead was short-lived as the other Yoder, Verlin Yoder, had Natural Herbie on a mission to the front. Natural Herbie reluctantly took command down the backside at the second station in :57.3.
The battle on the front continued as Rose Run Parker, with a three-race winning streak on the line, was aggressively sent to the front by Ricky Macomber Jr. Rose Run Parker reached the top spot approaching the three-quarter mark in 1:26.4, but took himself out of the race after he made a costly break around the final turn.
The race appeared to be over turning for home as Natural Herbie involuntarily inherited the lead, but Lady Blitz loomed large in the background. Just as Natural Herbie began to find his stride, Penn re-arrived on the scene late in the lane and was wearing down the tiring leader.
With the damage being done on the front, Lady Blitz used a :27.2 final panel to win by a neck. Princess Pablano, the other mare in the field, used a ground-saving trip and rallied gamely to finish second for driver Tyler Smith. Natural Herbie held on for third-place honours.
As the second longest shot on the board, Lady Blitz returned $81.20 at the windows.
“I didn’t think I would get a trip like that,” James Yoder noted after the race. “When Rose Run Parker made a break it really opened things up. Dad [Verlin Yoder] told me to stay on a helmet and wait until the lane to move. That’s what I did and it just worked out for us tonight.
“Of course, I was glad we won the race, but I would have liked to see Natural Herbie race a little better,” he continued. “It was just the first start for him though so hopefully he will [be] back to himself with a few more races. My mare really showed up tonight, she’s a great mare to drive.”
Trained and owned by Verlin Yoder, Lady Blitz scored her first win from two seasonal starts and 18th career victory. The daughter of Keystone Blitz-Oriental Lady is a multiple Indiana Sires Stakes champion, who now sports a lifetime bankroll of $421,801.
(Hoosier Park)