The first two-year-old races were held at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday, June 26, as three $10,000 divisions of the George Sholty Series were contested.
The series is a late closing event open to two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Among the list of impressive performers were Dojea Nodoze and Mr Jesse, a first-time starting duo sent postward from the Ron Burke stable.
Dojea Nodoze obeyed early orders from Ricky Macomber Jr. and eased into a spot along the rail in third. The duo was satisfied to follow along through the first quarter in :30.3 as Sizzling Hall and Dale Hiteman led the way down the backstretch. As the field of nine reached the half-mile marker in 1:02.3, Macomber Jr. gave the cue to Dojea Nodoze, who was able to put a nose in front of the leader around the 1:31.4 three-quarter mark. As the field turned for home, Dojea Nodoze separated himself from the pack and powered home a winner in 2:01.2 by five and three-quarter lengths. Mikeys Trottintoy and Mark O’Mara were able to use their rail position to get up for the second place finish as Jailhouse Jive and Doug Rideout trotted evenly for third.
Sired by Cincinnati Kid, the two-year-old colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Bred by Dojea Stables, Dojea Nodoze was a $20,000 yearling purchase from the Indiana Premier Yearling Sale last fall.
Mr Jesse followed up his stablemate’s performance with his own five and one-quarter length romp in his division of the late closing action. Driven by Macomber Jr., Mr Jesse left alertly from post six to find the front during an opening panel of :30.3. The freshman remained uncontested through fractions of 1:02.1 and 1:32.3, before trotting home in :28.4 to win going away in 2:01.2. Doug Rideout guided Poppycock to a second place finish as Boy Meets Girl K, driven by Kayne Kauffman, closed well for third.
Mr Jesse represents the first Indiana eligible crop from the standout sire Jailhouse Jesse. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Slaughter Racing Stable, Mr Jesse was a $20,000 yearling purchase from the Indiana Premier Yearling Sale last fall.
Go Gaspy Go and Rick Farrington closed out the late closing action for freshman trotters with a 2:02 victory by two and a half lengths over Paulie and Rideout. Sired by Elegant Man, the two-year-old colt was able to make his way through traffic and track down Paulie down the stretch with a :28.3 closing kick. Buddy Garland and Walter Haynes Jr. rounded out the trifecta. Go Gaspy Go is trained, owned, and bred by Aaron Stutzman.
(With files from Hoosier Park)