Sweetsgetintheway and driver Peter Wrenn lived up to their favourite status to win the $20,000 Bill Thompson final at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino Friday, May 8
. The duo held off attacks from both sides in the stretch to take home the win and a new lifetime mark of 1:54.3.
Starting from the second tier Post 10, Sweetsgetintheway had to wait for her opponents to get settled before taking control of the lead. Last week’s series winner Susies Lil Rip and Jason Dillander rallied out to the lead from the center of the track, posting the first quarter in :27.1. Down the backside, Sweetsgetintheway made a quick move out and around to take a comfortable lead at the halfway point in :56.2 before seeing any other horse tip to the outside to begin the outer flow of traffic forward.
In the stretch, Sweetsgetintheway held onto the lead while Lady Lakers and Rick Farrington pursued on the outside. Susies Lil Rip tried to dip down on the inside but couldn’t find the appropriate room to challenge. They made a second attempt closer to the wire and closed in tightly on Sweetsgetintheway, but she held strong, winning the race by a neck over Susies Lil Rip. Lady Lakers was less than a length back in third.
Owned by Dr. Jeff and Maria King’s Victory Hill Farm of LaGrange, Indiana, Sweetsgetintheway now has five wins in six outings for 2009. The sophomore daughter of Dontgetinmyway is trained by Bobby Brower and upped her career bankroll to $34,000.
In the following 12th race, Wrenn returned to the winner’s circle with North America Cup eligible Nob Hill High. The McArdle colt, who is rated at odds of 80-1 in Trot Magazine’s 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, won for the second time in as many outings this year.
Nob Hill High used a pocket-trip to his advantage winning in 1:54.1 by three-quarters of a length. Mil Amores (Andy Shetler) was the runner-up with King Me (Trace Tetrick) coming on for third.
In eight lifetime starts, Nob Hill High has recorded four wins and four seconds earning over $20,000 for trainer Bill Webb and owners and breeders Robert Mondillo of Delaware and Donald Robinson of Cardington, Ohio.
Earlier in the evening, American Flyer and Joe Putnam, part of the Fab Five Drivers at Hoosier Park, scored their second straight win in the Future Stars series. Putnam placed American Flyer on the front end at the start, posting fractions of :28.3, :59.4, and 1:30.0. In the stretch, American Flyer was unstoppable, drawing off to a comfortable two and one-half length victory in 1:57.4. Winning Prayer and Don Eash finished second over Clapton Blue Chip and Travis Seekman for third.
“He (American Flyer) came out of the gate strong, which was exactly what I wanted,” said Putnam. “He raced really well last week, and we drew the inside rail like I wanted, so that gave us a great edge. I wasn’t surprise at all how well he raced.”
Owned by Mitchell Kelly Walker of Davison, Michigan, American Flyer now has two wins in four starts for 2009. The four-year-old New And Notable gelding increased his career bankroll to more than $60,000 with the win. Putnam also trains American Flyer.
The second division of the Future Stars Series was taken by Southern Jade and Sandy Beatty Jr. Nordic Venture and Carl Putnam Jr. led the way through fractions of :27.2 and :58.0 before making a break and relinquishing the top spot to Like A Dream and Peter Wrenn. However, a mass of horses began to challenge in the lane, stretching across the track. Southern Jade had the best stride in the end, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.3. Debis Keeper and Mark O’Mara finished second while Master Solutions and Ricky Macomber finished third.
Southern Jade is owned by James Bianchi of Columbus, Ohio. Beatty, who is stabled on the grounds at Hoosier Park for the first time in 2009, trains the four-year-old daughter of Master Lavec.
(With files from Hoosier Park)