Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a returning champion Saturday, May 1. Southern Rocketop, driven by Hall of Famer Dave Magee, rallied home in his first start of the year to win the $23,000 Invitational Trot in a time of
1:55, proving he is back to tackle another year of competition.
Starting from Post 7 in the 10-horse lineup, Southern Rocketop moved away from the Todd Nixon starting gate well, securing the second spot behind early race leader Speed N The Tunnel and Sam Widger. However, their game plan wasn’t to follow along as Magee urged the four-year-old Illinois Horse of the Year to the outside and onto the lead, passing the second panel in a time of :56.2.
At that point, no one was able to unseat Southern Rocketop, who continued his hold on the field to the top of the stretch. Speed N The Tunnel popped out and moved up to challenge for a few strides, but Southern Rocketop kicked into gear and moved back out to win by one and one-quarter lengths in his 2010 racing debut. Voila American and Hoosier Park’s leading driver Peter Wrenn closed late for second over Toms Ok Lady and Ricky Macomber, who also closed well for third.
“He [Southern Rocketop] was very good,” said Magee, who has been the driver of the horse since last season. “The thing that helps him the most is if he will relax. I was hoping for a little easier journey, but he was good enough to overcome the setup of the race. He ran into a little headwind in the stretch and still finished well. I’m very pleased with the way he raced.”
Trained by Robert Taylor, Southern Rocket earned his 21st win in his 32nd career start. The four-year-old son of Psychic Spirit increased his career earnings to more than $656,000 for his new owner, Tor Birger Krageboen of Norway. His quickest time was recorded in 1:52.2 last year, a new track record at Balmoral Park.
“The more time Bobby [Taylor] spends with him, the better he gets,” said Magee. “He’s had another year to work with him and he keeps him quiet. He appears to be even better this year.”
Magee returned to the winner’s circle with another significant win in the 10th race of the night. Allthatgltrsisgold continues to prepare for the upcoming $500,000 Hoosier Cup, scoring an easy win against conditioned competition in a time of 1:52.3. A winner by two and one-half lengths, Allthatgltrsisgold was reunited with Magee, who steered him to a second place finish in the $180,000 American National at Balmoral Park last fall.
“Dave [Magee] gets along with him really well,” said Bobby Brower, who trains the Cams Card Shark colt for Dr. Jeff and Dr. Maria King’s Victory Hill Farm. “He showed promise last year and if you keep him calm, he’s capable of anything. He’s getting ready for the Hoosier Cup and if everything goes well, he’ll go onto the stakes circuit and eventually to the North America Cup.”
Allthatgltrsisgold, who is assessed at odds of 55-1 in Trot Magazine's 2010 North America Cup Spring Book, is one of 44 three-year-olds nominated to the Hoosier Cup, which is slated for Saturday, May 29. The race, which moves to a new format in 2010 with one dash for the cash, is Indiana’s richest harness race. The evening will also feature the second preliminary round of Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-olds on both the trot and the pace.
Commanding Win for The Admiral In Invitational Pace
The Admiral, driven by Eric Goodell, held off Freddyscooter and Mark O’Mara down the stretch to win the featured $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, May 1 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. It was a two horse race with The Admiral and Freddyscooter slugging it out the last eighth of a mile, giving The Admiral the one-half length advantage at the wire in a time of 1:52.3.
Several horses left for the top spot from the gate, giving Royalton Star and driver Andy Shetler their customary spot in the lead at the quarter-mile marker in :26.3. The shuffling for the top spot continued. Just before the half mile marker, the fourth leader of the race took over as Ricky Macomber and Unrecognized Saint moved into the top spot in :54.2. Goodell had The Admiral in the outside path near the back of the pack, just waiting for another horse to tip out and give him a horse to follow forward.
Valentowner and leading driver Peter Wrenn moved to the outside heading into the turn and The Admiral was slow to move up behind him but did gain ground on the front horses. Unrecognized Saint continued to lead to the top of the stretch before Freddyscooter and O’Mara tipped off The Admiral’s back and took off for the wire.
Freddyscooter appeared to have the lengthiest stride but he could not shake The Admiral, who continued to grind his way at the leader. In the final strides, The Admiral wore down Freddyscooter and came back on the inside to win. Robin I Scoot and Trace Tetrick closed well to finish third.
“I drove this horse [The Admiral' earlier this year at The Meadowlands,” said Goodell, who is new to the Indiana circuit this season. “I wasn’t expecting him to beat these horses tonight. He can be kind of temperamental, but if he’s on his game, he gets it done.”
The Admiral picked up his third win of the season in 14 starts for owner Larry Lyles of LRL Racing located in Grosse Isle, Michigan. The win was his 19th overall in 66 lifetime starts, which puts his career earnings over $283,000. Kim Pluta, based out of Michigan, trains the five-year-old son of Admirals Galley. Goodell is the eighth driver to sit behind The Admiral this year.
Originally from Michigan, Goodell has spent the last four years on the East Coast racing at various tracks. He was among the leading drivers at several places, including Harrah’s Chester Downs, Dover Downs, and The Meadowlands. Earlier this year, he made the decision to start exploring a move back to the Midwest, placing the Indiana circuit on the list for consideration.
“When I left for The Meadowlands, I didn’t really have anyone lined up to drive for, I just went out with my colours,” said Goodell. “It’s been a great experience. I’m basically looking to move back because of my family. I think in the long run, it will be a good move for me.”
Prior to his move to the East Coast, Goodell won leading driver titles at Northville Downs, Saginaw Harness, Hazel Park, and Sports Creek Raceway, all in Michigan. The 36-year-old competent reinsman is just 12 shy of 4,000 career wins. Goodell has total purse earnings of over $31 million. Although he has shipped in from Michigan to race at Hoosier Park in the past, this is the first time he has placed his main focus on the Indiana racing circuit.
Australian Driver Wins First Race At Hoosier
Two veterans in the sport earned a first Saturday, May 1 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The Windsurfer A, accompanied by Australian driver Darren Hancock, earned their first win on American soil, taking home the top prize in the $10,000 conditioned trot, scoring by open lengths in a time of 1:56.4. Hancock relocated to the United States in late February, choosing Indiana as his temporary home for the duration of his stay.
Starting from the center of the pack, The Windsurfer A rallied out early and found a perfect resting place, sitting at the back of Matilda Coe and Sam Widger through the quarter in :28.2. Cuda Boy and Ricky Macomber blasted out and rallied to the lead, taking control of the race at the half in :56.4. The duo continued their swift stride, opening up on the field by more than four lengths around the turn.
In the stretch, several horses began to close in on Cuda Boy, including The Windsurfer A. Hancock eased the nine-year-old son of Classic Adam to the outside and found another gear, scooting by and opening up on Cuda Boy to win by three and one-quarter lengths. Matilda Coe held gamely for third.
“It’s a good feeling to get my first win,” said Hancock, who adapted to new American-style orange and black colours. “He [The Windsurfer A] has been going right along, and I thought he had a chance in this field tonight. He has been a good horse for us. We bought him from Melbourne and raised $50,000 with him in 20 starts. He never missed a check for us before we came to the United States.”
The Windsurfer A now has 18 wins in 128 career starts. Prior to his win, he brought Hancock close to the winner’s circle, scoring a second and third in four prior starts at Hoosier Park.
Hancock is an accomplished driver in Australia. His biggest win was recorded in the prestigious Inter Dominion Pace at Gloucester in 2004 and he has been the driver behind some of the country’s best harness horses.
Hancock left behind a farm and racing operation to explore the racing industry in the United States. He is accompanied by his wife, Anita, and two sons, Branden, age eight, and Corey, age five, along with his former brother-in-law Leon Jerd. Jerd recently returned to Australia to look for additional horses that might possibly be candidates for racing in the United States. The Hancocks are currently stabled at Marvin Chambers farm just north of Hoosier Park and plan to race at Indiana Downs at the conclusion of the meet before heading back to Australia in the fall. They brought five horses from their native land and currently have four competing at Hoosier Park.
(With files from Hoosier Park)