Ultimate Velocity utilized her customary late charge to prevail in the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday
(June 15).
In just her second seasonal start, Ultimate Velocity notched the first victory of her 2012 season in 1:51.4, just missing her lifetime mark.
Driven by Jason Dillander, the 2-1 choice got away a worrisome eighth as Charlie Conrad and Forever Showin Off led through the first marker in :26. Red S and Ed Hensley were then out and moving, engaging the leader through the half-mile time in :55.1.
Red S led the field of nine through a three-quarter clocking in 1:24 before feeling a threat from Mcflirty and Trace Tetrick first over as Ultimate Velocity and Dillander waited patiently to make their move. With a closing panel of :26.3, Ultimate Velocity was able to overcome her rivals to reach the wire in front of Mcflirty by three parts of a length. Dont Sugar Me dug in gamely to get up for the third place finish.
Ultimate Velocity returned $6.20 to her backers.
“This mare is always a pleasure to drive,” Dillander noted of his mount. “This was only her second start of the year so we always want to take care of her, but she has so much closing kick she does a lot of the work on her own. Those mares were pacing fast on the front, but you can never count her out no matter where she is. I was really happy with the way she raced tonight, she raced really tough.”
The win marked the 19th career victory for the six-year-old daughter of Western Ideal. Trained by Trent Stohler, Ultimate Velocity has bankrolled over $250,000 for owners Kenneth Stohler and Trent Stohler.
Three-year-old pacing fillies Black Pansy (1:55.2), Miss Kilo (1:55.3), Gimme A Brake (1:54.4) won a trio of $10,000 Indiana Silver Sire Stakes also featured on the Friday card.
Live standardbred racing action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (June 16) with the co-featured $24,000 Open Pace and Open Trot. The celebrity drivers will kick off the evening with the opening round of Charity Chariots, an opportunity for racing fans to take a ride around Hoosier Park’s oval on a double seated jog cart with their favorite celebrity driver. The rides, available to fans for a donation of $20, will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to each driver’s pre-elected charity.
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. A free fireworks presentation will conclude the night’s activities and will be held at the conclusion of the last race. Hoosier Park will offer a free fireworks show each Saturday night through the end of the live standardbred meet.
(With files from Hoosier Park)