Post position proved to be no factor as American Girl overcame her rivals late in the lane to capture the third round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday
Driven by Pete Wrenn, the three-year-old daughter of Arts Chip was able to find her way through the 12-horse field to score her second victory of the season from post nine.
Dont Flash Me and Trace Tetrick left the gate alertly to reach the first quarter mark in a brisk :25.4. E R Sister and Don Eash benefitted from a pocket trip while Roberts Ideal and Ricky Macomber Jr. followed closely in third. The heavily favoured entry from the Rod Lorenzo barn, Sheza Cool Cookie and Springhouse Waltz, followed along the rail in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Dont Flash Me continued to dictate fractions of :55.1 and 1:24.1 before feeling a threat on the outside from Sam Widger and Sheza Cool Cookie first over. As the field turned for home, Dont Flash Me continued to cling to the lead as Sheza Cool Cookie closed in. Springhouse Waltz loomed second over with Free Girl and American Girl right at her heels in the outer flow.
The field began to fan out across the track as American Girl found her best strides late in the lane to win by two and a quarter lengths in 1:52.3, a new career-best clocking. Sheza Cool Cookie held on for second while Roberts Ideal came on late for the show. Tabbed as the fifth choice, American Girl paid $12.20 for the win.
“She really showed a lot of class tonight,” Wrenn said of his mount. “I didn’t want to get way 12th, but I was also worried about finding enough cover. With 12 horses in the field, there’s a lot that can happen, but it ended up working out really well for us. When I tipped her three-wide she exploded to the wire and really surprised me.”
Trained by Ernie Gaskin, American Girl pushed her career earnings over $130,000 with the lion’s share of the purse. American Girl has six lifetime victories in 18 outings and is owned by Darla Gaskin and Stanley Rosenblatt.
(Hoosier Park)