Coming from behind while never seeing the cones, the Erv Miller-trained millionaire pacer Coach Stefanos earned his first win of the year claiming the $30,137 Open Handicap Pace at Hoosier Park on Friday, May 22.
Electing to allow the field to battle for first out of the gate, driver Marcus Miller settled post eight starter Coach Stefanos into eighth near the back while unable to find a seat along the pylons. In a three-wide affair at the front towards the first quarter, Odds On Outlier (Peter Wrenn) led the field in :26.3 tightly followed by Tellmeaboutit (LeWayne Miller) and favourite Im Skinnydipin N (Trace Tetrick).
Odds On Outlier did not last long on the front as Im Skinnydipn N motored along the outside to leapfrog the early leader. However, Crooked Smile (Jordan Ross) followed the move of Im Skinnydipin N to take the pole position, meeting the halfway mark in :56.
The excitement continued as Sanday A (John De Long) and Coach Stefanos trudged along the outside moving up the ranks quickly. Crooked Smile maintained his lead at the three-quarter turn in 1:24.3, but not without pressure from Sanday A making up ground on the right. Im Skinnydipin N faced a similar challenge flip-flopping position with Coach Stefanos beside him from second-over poised to strike.
Down the stretch, the field of nine became scattered with the true challengers starting to reveal themselves. Coach Stefanos moved to the far outside, Crooked Smile in the middle and Im Skinnydipin N riding the pylons as the three pacers slugged it out closing in on the finish. Coach Stefanos’s game plan came to fruition by executing the winning play with a :26 final split to beat out the open field in a photo by a head in 1:51. Crooked Smile claimed second, while Im Skinnydipin N slid into third a half-length back.
Coach Stefanos is owned by Kenneth Duffy, D And M Trading Ii LLC and John Stefanos, all of Orland Park, Illinois. The six-year-old Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched gelding hit the board in his first two starts of the season before picking up the 21st victory of his career.
Coach Stefanos paid $7.80 to win as the 5-2 second choice.
Live harness racing at Hoosier Park continues on Saturday, May 23. The 14-race card will included a $7,500 USD guaranteed Late Pick 4 and $7,500 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 done in partnership with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. First post is set for 5:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)