Always A Prince made his seventh consecutive trip to the winner’s circle at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, May 18 as he completed the Hal Dale Series sweep, winning the $18,000 final of the late-closing event open to Indiana-sired colts and geldings that are non-winners of $25,000 lifetime.
Driven by Peter Wrenn, Always A Prince used his customary front-running tactics to score in 1:51.3 by three lengths over a track rated sloppy to remain undefeated this season.
Leaving from post three, Always A Prince left the gate alertly but so did a host of others. One Cool Cat and Todd Warren protected their rail position and were first as the wings of the gate folded. Always A Prince was pointed to the front and grabbed the top spot just before the first quarter in :28. One Cool Cat benefitted from a pocket trip while Charlie Conrad had Skyway Quinton following along intently in third.
Always Prince clicked off fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.2 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Ricky Macomber Jr. had Rockinbeach applying pressure to the outside as the field rounded the final turn. Toms Arockin and Sam Widger were set to strike from second-over but Always A Prince was strong on the front.
Utilizing a :26.1 final panel, Always A Prince began to distance himself from the rest of the field and finished under a hand drive, three lengths in front of Toms Arockin. Skyway Quinton rallied well to round out the trifecta.
As the heavy betting favourite, Always A Prince returned $2.40 to his backers at the betting windows.
“He’s just getting better every start,” Wrenn noted after the victory. “He seems to be getting more professional and you can do anything you want with him. It will be interesting when he has to work out a trip, he’s had everything his way so far, but I really think he’s the real deal.”
Unraced as a two-year-old, the gelded son of Always A Virgin-Glorious Princess is undefeated in seven starts this year for trainer Jim Dailey. Owned by Kimberly Dailey and Carl & Melanie Atley, Always A Prince has now amassed $36,000 in lifetime purse earnings.
Just a few races later, Jet Airway continued a winning streak of his own, taking the $21,000 Invitational Pace to score his ninth consecutive victory and third consecutive at Hoosier Park. Driven by LeWayne Miller, Jet Airway finished five lengths in front of his next closest competitor to stop the timer in 1:49.4.
Trained by Dylan Davis, the seven-year-old son of Jeremes Jet-Aromatic has now won 11 of 17 seasonal outings. Owned in partnership by Michael Casalino Jr. and Dylan Davis, Jet Airway has won 31 of 87 lifetime starts and sports a lifetime bankroll of $649,655.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, May 19 with a 12-race card starting at an adjusted post time of 7:10 p.m. Saturday’s card will feature a $21,000 Invitational Trot and a $21,000 Invitational Pace for fillies and mares.
Hoosier Park will host a Psychic Fair Fundraiser to benefit the Animal Protection League (APL) of Anderson, Indiana. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the lower level grandstands at Hoosier Park. Guests who donate $10 to APL during the event will receive a free psychic reading. All proceeds will go to the Animal Protection League.
(With files from Hoosier Park)