The first two-year-old races were held at Hoosier Park on Friday, giving fans a glimpse at some of the future stars in the state of Indiana
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Heading the list of impressive performers was Next Flight In, a first time starter from the Erv Miller Stable, who knocked out his debut in a time of 1:58.
Next Flight In obeyed early orders from driver Peter Wrenn and eased into a spot near the back. The duo was satisfied to follow along through the first quarter in :27.3 as Pro Deuce and Dale Decker led the way down the backstretch. Gold Deuce and Roger Cullipher moved out and took control of the race before the half in a time of :59.2 and gave the cue to Wrenn that it was time to move out and start making a move to the lead.
Wrenn was able to flush a few horses to the outside and follow along with Next Flight In around the final turn but eventually moved three-wide to have a better shot at a smooth stretch drive. Just after the three-quarter mile marker in 1:31.2, Next Flight In was in full swing, powering toward the leaders and moving on for the win by one and one-quarter lengths. He used a final panel in :26.1 to get the job done for Miller. Caviart Key and Trace Tetrick finished second over Gold Deuce and Roger Cullipher for third.
“He (Next Flight In) has got all the tools to be a good one,” said Wrenn. “He has high speed, he’s smart, and he has the desire to go. He is everything you look for in a two-year-old. I was impressed by him. I really liked him a lot.”
Next Flight In is owned by Mystical Marker Farms, Mary Jane Anderson, and Jack and Peggy Hood. He represents the second crop of Panspacificflight, who had a stellar season as a freshman sire in the state of Indiana last season. Bred by Edward Miller, Next Flight In was a $36,000 purchase from the Indiana Standardbred Yearling Sale last fall.
Two-year-old filly pacers were featured in the eighth race of the evening, giving the nod to Lil Miss Hotshot and driver Ricky Macomber. The Artstanding filly was also making her racing debut, winning her event by one length in a time of 1:59. Trained by Joe Seekman, Lil Miss Hotshot is owned by John Christensen of Scarborough, Ontario. The Indiana sired filly is among the first crop of starters for sire Artstanding.
(Hoosier Park)