Ubettorbeturlife turned in a gutsy performance to take home top honours in the featured event, a $21,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, April 29.
Slightly dismissed at odds of 5-1, Ubettorbeturlife left early for position and was game in the stretch to score her second win of the season in 1:50.4, besting her lifetime mark by a full second.
Leaving from post three in a talented field of six, the Trent Stohler trainee was sent from the gate as soon as the wings folded by driver John Delong. Ubettorbeturlife grabbed the lead at the first quarter clocking in :27.2, but her lead would be short-lived as Ricky Macomber Jr. had Wild Wanda pointed to the front.
Wild Wanda reached the top spot at the half in :55.2 while the heavily favoured Colors A Virgin and Trace Tetrick opted for a trip off the pace and trailed the field for much of the mile.
With a three-quarter clocking in 1:23.3, Norma Rockwell and Marlin Fry were the first to commit to the outer flow while White Metro and Jason Dillander grabbed the cover and were well placed second over. Tetrick also had Colors A Virgin in the outer flow third-over as the field turned for home.
Wild Wanda continued to call the shots and looked strong on the front as she braced herself for the cavalry charge to the wire. Wild Wanda was able to fight off Nora Rockwell on the outside, but Ubettorbeturlife loomed large in the pocket.
Delong found late racing room and Ubettorbeturlife responded gamely with a :26.4 final panel to find the wire a neck in front of Wild Wanda. Colors A Virgin staged a big rally late in the lane, but had to settle for third-place honours.
Ubettorbeturlife returned $12.40 at the betting windows.
“She [Ubettorbeturlife[ really surprised me tonight,” trainer Trent Stohler said after the victory. “She’s a very nice mare and she’s got one really great attribute in that you can do anything you want with her. That was a great drive by John [Delong].”
The victory was the five-year-old mare’s 17th career win and second this season. The daughter of Bettors Delight-Sherry increased her lifetime bankroll to $180,840 for her owners Trent Stohler, Ben Graber, and Dolne Farm Services. The victory was also the second win on the evening’s card for Hoosier Park’s leading driver, John Delong.
Live racing continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, April 30 with an action-packed 14-race card at its regularly scheduled post time of 5:45 p.m. The 2015 Breeders Crown champion Freaky Feet Pete will look to score his second consecutive victory of the season in the evening’s featured event, a $21,000 Invitational Pace.
(With files from Hoosier Park)