Driver-trainer Dan Shetler scored twice in the second round of the $10,000 Indiana Silver Sire Stakes action on Tuesday (May 22) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
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Shetler brought home four winners on the 13-race program, two of which came from his own training stable in the Indiana Silver Sire Stakes action. Shetler captured the final stakes splits behind his three-year-old trotting colts Chevie Balboa and Lemon Tree.
Chevie Balboa broke his maiden in 2:00, winning by two lengths over Themilkmenskid. Shetler worked out a perfect pocket trip after three of the 10 starters made miscues behind the starting gate. Themilkmenskid was the early pacesetter through fractions of :28.3 and :59.1 before being overtaken by Elians Boy and Bill Dailey. Reaching the three-quarter marker in 1:30.2, Shetler tipped the gelded son of Rocky Balboa out from behind the leader’s wheel to trot home a winner. The heavy betting favourite, Elian Express, endured a tough first over journey to finish third.
Chevie Balboa earned his first career victory in seven lifetime starts as he pushed his career earnings over $12,000 for owners Parent Racing Stable LLC, John E. McGill, and Sawgrass Farms LLC.
Shetler, known for his expertise with trotters, also sent out Lemon Tree, who found the winner’s circle in 2:00. Sired by Abc Garland, Lemon Tree produced a :28.4 closing panel to wear down Dukeofhazards late in the lane. After controlling much of the race, Celadon held on for the third place finish.
Lemon Tree earned $5,000 in his maiden-breaking victory for owners Parent Racing Stable LLC, Kales Co. LLC, and Sawgrass Farms LLC.
Italian Stallion won going away in 1:58.2 for driver-trainer Pete Wrenn in the fastest of four divisions on the night.
The Rocky Balboa gelding got away fourth along the rail as Ideal Tachycardia set the early tempo of :28.2. Soon after the :58.2 half-mile marker, Wrenn moved Italian Stallion to the lead and was never contested the rest of the mile. Winning by seven and a quarter lengths, Italian Stallion trotted home in :29.1 to beat out the bettors' choice, Mr Balboa, with Ideal Tachycardia hanging on for third.
Victorious in three of six starts, Italian Stallion has earned over $30,000 for his owners of Wrenn Racing LLC and Oldford Farms.
Waitenonatide and Mark O’Mara also reached the winner’s circle in their division of the stakes action in 1:59.1.
In his maiden-breaking victory, Waitenonatide was the quickest out of the gate from post five with Supermans Kid and Pete Wrenn in second. Past the quarter in :28.2, Mike Hollenback moved the 6-5 favourite, Primetime Jerry, from fourth to first, clearing past the half-mile marker in :58.2. Waitenonatide popped the pocket in the stretch to trot home a winner by two and a half lengths over Allstate Norm. Primetime Jerry held on for the third place finish.
The winner returned $30.80 to win. Owned and bred by Don Swartzentruber, Waitenonatide is trained by Robert Wagler. The three-year-old son of Abc Garland has now bankrolled over $6,000 for his connections.
(With files from Hoosier Park)