Continual Velocity used a tough, front-running effort to prevail in the featured event, a $24,000 Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, May 31.
Notching her fifth win of the season, the five-year-old mare stopped the clock in 1:51.3.
Leaving from post nine, Continual Velocity was unhurried out of the gate by driver/trainer Trent Stohler and settled along the rail in fourth. Montenegro and Ricky Macomber Jr. left the gate alertly to grab the lead through an opening panel in :27.2.
Stohler had Continual Velocity out and firing as the field straightened away down the backside and reached the front through the half-mile time in :56. Kerosene and Tyler Smith were then out and moving, engaging the leader as the field approached the final turn.
Continual Velocity led the field of nine through a three-quarter clocking in 1:23.3 before feeling a threat from McFlirty and driver Jason Dillander, who benefitted from a trip along the rail in fourth.
With a closing panel in :28, Continual Velocity was able to put away her rivals and finish two lengths in front of her next closest competitor. McFlirty battled gamely to finish second while Kerosene overcame a taxing trip to finish third. As the 1-1 favourite, Continual Velocity returned $4.20 for the win.
The win marked the 19th career victory for the daughter of Real Artist. Continual Velocity has bankrolled over $282,000 for owner Kenneth Stohler of Markelville, Indiana.
Live standardbred racing action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 1 with the featured $24,000 Invitational Trot. The popular ‘I Win, You Win’ giveaway is also back featuring all of Hoosier Park’s celebrity drivers. Guests can enter nightly during live racing at Club Centaur for a chance to win a $25 gift card.
(Hoosier Park)