Coach Stefanos, with driver Trace Tetrick in the bike, turned in a dominant performance to win the featured event of the evening, the $97,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 16. Stopping the timer in 1:49.3, Coach Stefanos established a new lifetime mark and remains undefeated in two starts this season.
Leaving from post seven in the talented field of 11, Coach Stefanos left just enough to grab a seat along the pylons in fifth. Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller were the quickest away through the opening quarter in :27.1 while Ifudntnomebynow and Brandon Bates grabbed the pocket seat.
As the field approached the half, John DeLong had Buzzsaw Russ out and firing and the post-time favourite took the lead just past the half in a snappy :53.4. Buzzsaw Russ continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:22.1, but David Allan Whoa and Joey Putnam were on the attack with Coach Stefanos in tow.
Using a :26.2 final panel, Coach Stefanos tipped off cover and dug in gamely late through the lane to track down his competitors and get the win by a head over Why Not Now. David Allan Whoa finished third.
Coach Stefanos returned $5.40 to his backers at the betting windows.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” noted driver Trace Tetrick after the victory. “It worked out perfect for us. He’s a super colt. Erv [Miller] and his team have done a great job with him, getting him ready and bringing him along. He qualified great and he’s been very sharp in both his starts. He’s a very talented, very versatile colt. You can do just about anything you want with him.”
Trained by Erv Miller, the son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched has now won eight of 13 lifetime starts while bankrolling $318,805 for owners Kenneth Duffy, D And M Trading II and John Stefanos. Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm.
Coach Stefanos was the seventh winner on the evening’s 14-race program for Hoosier's leading driver Trace Tetrick.
Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 17 with a 12-race card beginning at 7 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)