Two-year-old fillies were in action at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino Friday, June 19 to kick off several series
. One division of trotting fillies kicked off the night while two divisions of pacing fillies were on the card.
The first race was dedicated to the first leg of the Fred Terry series for trotting fillies. Call Me Ching and driver Dan Shetler emerged as the rising stars from the event, posting a nearly perfect performance for the win. Starting from Post 2 in the 12-filly lineup, Shetler tried to contain Call Me Ching early, giving leeway to Hoosier Cheetah and Steve Waller for the first call at the quarter in :28.2. As the field straightened up down the backstretch, Call Me Ching was out and rolling, clearing easily by the half-mile marker in 1:00.3.
With a clear lead heading into the stretch, Call Me Ching was well in hand as the field moved toward the finish line. In the end, she was a winner by two and three-quarter lengths over her competition. Sipn Lucid and Walter Haynes Jr. rallied up for second over Msnaughtybynature and Jeff Edwards for third.
“This is a very nice filly,” said Shetler. “She seems to have a whole lot of natural ability, and a great attitude to go along with it. She got a little over-ambitious in the first turn, but we let everyone get settled and then made our move. She’s still a little green.”
Call Me Ching is owned by Vaun Warner of Robards, Kentucky and Greg Culley of Evansville, Indiana. John Merkel trains the chestnut daughter by Keep It A Secret.
“She’s been all trot from day one,” said Merkel. “She’s always done everything right and was showing promise in training. This is the first horse for Greg [Culley] to race. He worked for me years ago at Louisville Downs and has had horses for the past couple of years but we’ve sold them. This is the first one to make it to the races for him.”
Culley works for Red Spot Paint in Evansville in the laboratory. His partner, Warner, recently retired from Gibbs Manufacturing Worldwide in Henderson, Ky. where he served as the head maintenance man. Werner has other horses racing, including trotter ABC Cruncher.
Call Me Ching earned a new lifetime mark of 2:01.3. She had one prior qualifying start at Hoosier Park.
(Hoosier Park)