Rompaway Beau stepped back into the top class and took top honours in the featured race, a $24,000 Winners Over trotting event, at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino on Saturday, June 15.
With Tyler Smith at the lines, Rompaway Beau notched his first win of the season with a lifetime-best effort of 1:53.4.
Leaving from post four, Rompaway Beau settled fourth along the rail while the nine-horse field battled for early position through an opening panel in :27. Abc Mercedes and Trace Tetrick won the early battle and assumed his regular position on the front, reaching the half-mile time in :55.4. Hava Kadabra and Ricky Macomber Jr. were well placed in second while Prayer Session and Ed Hensley followed intently in third. Last week’s winner, Southwind Pepino, was well off the pace in eighth for Hugh Beatty.
Abc Mercedes continued to call the shots around the three-quarter mark in 1:25 before the rest of the field closed in on the veteran trotter. It was a cavalry charge to the wire as the field spanned out across the track, but Rompaway Beau reached the wire first. With a :28.1 final panel, Rompaway Beau was able to hold off a hard-charging Southwind Pepino, who finished a game second. Hava Kadabra took advantage of a pocket trip to round out the trifecta.
As the public’s fourth choice, Rompaway Beau returned $9.20 to his backers for the upset.
Trained by Krista Williams, the seven-year-old scored his 41st career victory from 128 lifetime outings. Sired by Chip Chip Hooray, Rompaway Beau has bankrolled over $380,000 for his connections of Rompaway Farms LLC of Battle Creek, Michigan.
On the pacing side of the racing action, Paco Labrook continued his winning ways in the $24,000 Winners Over event with a sharp 1:50 score for driver/trainer Brad Hanners.
Paco Labrook notched his sixth win of the season as he pushed his seasonal earnings over $100,000 mark. The five-year-old gelding has amassed over $480,000 in earnings from 50 lifetime starts. Owned by James Baucher, Paco Labrook has now recorded two consecutive victories in the top class at Hoosier Park.
(With files from Hoosier Park)