M M S Bud pulled off a big surprise in the $30,137 Open Handicap Pace at Hoosier Park on Friday, May 1, winning as the longest shot on the board.
Starting from the inside post, 19-1 longshot M M S Bud and driver LeWayne Miller settled third in behind Crooked Smile (Jordan Ross) and the leader, Golden Bay N (Trace Tetrick), who took charge through the first turn in :26.1. Showing the way down the backstretch, Golden Bay N ushered the six-horse field single file to the halfway mark at :55.
Heading into the final turn, M M S Bud moved out from third, wasting little time to take second with his sights set on the leading Golden Bay N, who reached the three-quarter mark in 1:23.1.
M M S Bud made quick work of Golden Bay N at the top of the stretch, moving to the front before season-debuting millionaire Coach Stefanos (Marcus Miller) took aim off his cover. The stretch battle commenced as Coach Stefanos revved up his usual late rally, with M M S Bud digging in gamely to his inside. M M S Bud had to pace home in :26.1 to hold Coach Stefanos at bay by a half-length on the wire in 1:49.3. Crooked Smile was third over Golden Bay N, with favourite Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long) getting the final cheque, while Indiana Sires Stakes champion Rock Shines Again (Kyle Wilfong) had his win streak snapped after a perfect sophomore season in 2025.
M M S Bud, a winner of the Open 2-3 class two starts ago and improving to two-for-four this year, paid $40.20 for the top tier Open upset.
The five-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Climate Hanover gelding now sports a career record record reading 12-13-9 from 57 starts and sent his lifetime earnings over $400,000 for trainer Alvin Miller and co-owners Ted Comerford and Marvin Schwartz of Peru, Indiana.
Live harness racing continues at Hoosier with the first Saturday card of the meet on May 2, with 14 races set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Saturday card offers $7,500 guarantees on both the Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and Late High 5 (race 14) done in partnership with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. Guests can also watch and wager on the Derby Day action in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning at 11 a.m. Hoosier will also offer the Derby Day Hat Contest at 4 p.m. on the Terrace Showroom Stage, $5,000 USD MegaBet Drawings for the Derby, as well as second-chance drawings on Hoosier races.
(With files from Hoosier Park)