Igottafeelinfran returned to her winning ways and captured the featured event, a $22,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 20.
After a fifth-place finish at this level last week, Igottafeelinfran staged a big rally in the late stages of the mile to take nearly two seconds off her lifetime-best mark and score in 1:51.3.
Guided by Brad Hanners, Igottafeelinfran left just enough to secure an early position along the rail in second while American Girl and Tyler Smith fired to the front through an opening panel in :26.2. American Girl’s lead was short-lived as she yielded the front to a determined Bombilla Hanover and Peter Wrenn at the half-mile mark in :54.
Hanners made his winning move as he sent Igottafeelinfran to the front around the three-quarter clocking in 1:22.4. Bombilla Hanover began to tire on the front, and as the field approached the final turn, Igottafeelinfran had reached the leader’s wheel. As the rest of the field was closing in, Igottafeelinfran was pulling away. Using a :28.4 final, Igottafeelinfran was able to hold off a hard-charging Love This Place and Trace Tetrick to win by a head. Ritascape used her customary late surge to round out the trifecta. As the public's second choice, Igottafeelinfran returned $8 to her backers at the windows.
The win was the second of the season from 12 starts for the multiple stakes-winning mare. Owned by Jerry Zosel, Kathy Ratcliff, and Kimberly Dailey, Igottafeelinfran has now won 12 of 36 starts while amassing $296,121 lifetime. Trained by Jim Dailey, the daughter of Feelin Friskie-Fran Anna was an Ohio Sire Stakes champion in the three-year-old pacing fillies division last year.
Hanners had a driving double on the night as he also scored later in the evening with Endeavors Dot Com for trainer Walter Haynes Jr.
(With files from Hoosier Park)