Indiana’s 2017 two-year-old trotting filly of the year, Meadowbrook Grace, pulled off a series sweep to retain her perfect two-for-two sophomore record after she captured the featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old trotting fillies, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, May 30.
Scoring in 1:53.3 with Trace Tetrick in the bike, Meadowbrook Grace recorded her second seasonal victory in the opening round of the stakes action and established a new lifetime best in the process.
Starting from Post 5 in a talented field of ten, Meadowbrook Grace was unhurried from the gate and settled along the rail in fifth while a host of others left alertly for position. Custom Cantab and Peter Wrenn followed the wings of the gate out from Post 8 to get the first call through the opening panel in :27.3. O So Easy and Verlin Yoder were also involved in the early mix from Post 9 and pressed on to the front to grab command just past the half in :56.4.
Custom Cantab was content to sit the pocket with Southerntucky and Dale Hiteman following along in third. O So Easy was still calling the shots through the third station in 1:26, but Meadowbrook Grace was on the attack first-over with Sarabi As and Elliot Deaton in tow.
Using a :27.2 final panel, Meadowbrook Grace was able to wear down O So Easy and hold off a late surge from Sarabi As. Custom Cantab utilized a ground-saving trip to round out the trifecta. As the heavy betting favourite, Meadowbrook Grace returned $4.00 for the victory.
Meadowbrook Grace and Trace Tetrick capture the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old trotting fillies at Hoosier Park (Linscott Photography)
“She’s come back really strong and sound this season,” Tetrick noted after the victory. “She’s very handy and is really easy to manage for a trotting filly. There was a pretty good head wind in the stretch tonight, but good horses go right through it, and that’s what she did tonight.”
Trained by Erv Miller, the daughter of Swan For All-Chips Goddess recorded her sixth victory from 12 lifetime outings. With the win, Meadowbrook Grace pushed her lifetime earnings to $223,450 for owners Anthony Lombardi and The Kales Company.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, May 31 with the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The evening’s 13-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 sequence in Races 3-6. Free past performances for the sequence will be available on the USTA website. Expert selections and handicapping tools are also available on the handicapping section of Hoosier Park’s website.
With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 10.
(Hoosier Park)