There would be no matching Saturday’s performance of Shark Gesture and driver George Brennan as they
broke the 12-year-old Hoosier Park Standardbred track record of 1:48.2 by winning the 17th edition of the Dan Patch Invitational in 1:48.1, however, Msnaughtybynature, driven by Peter Wrenn, would offer up some excitement in the fourth and final leg of a division of three-year-old fillies in the Indiana Sires Stakes.
Msnaughtybynature won the $40,000 tilt, crossing the finish line in 1:58.1. Kindakinky and driver Chad Peter came in 9-3/4 lengths behind the winner to finish in second. Luvin Secret, driven by Don Eash, finished third.
Starting from Post 8, Msnaughtybynature sprinted to the front and never relinquished the top spot the rest of the race. Call Me Ching and driver Dan Shetler claimed the second spot going into the first quarter, settling in right behind Msnaughtybynature. Not much had changed as they crossed the half-mile marker in: 57.3, as Msnaughtybynature still had the lead over Call Me Ching by one and one-half lengths. LW Galie Rachel and driver Doug Rideout followed in third.
As they came around the final turn, passing the three-quarters in 1:27.4, Call Me Ching looked poised to make a run at the front and attempt to take the lead. Msnaughtybynature would have nothing to do with that, as Wrenn loosened up on the reins and let the speedy filly take off towards the finish line. She did just that, pulling away from Call Me Ching and the rest of the field stride by stride. Call Me Ching broke stride coming down the stretch, giving way to the rest of the field to close in.
“People don’t realize how special horses truly are,” partial owner Melanie Wrenn said. “There are more bad times than good times in this business, so to get a nice horse such as her (Msnaughtybynature) is really special and exciting for everyone involved.”
The win by Msnaughtybynature) is a little more special for the Wrenn family with Peter training and driving the horse.
“He (Peter) is just so good with young horses,” said Wrenn. “He can train. He can drive, and he just knows horses. It’s almost like he’s the horse whisperer.”
The win keeps Msnaughtybynature a perfect four for four on the year and marks the 13th career win in 16 starts. The win also puts the career earnings over the $300,000 mark for owners Wrenn of Carmel, Ind. along with The Kales Company LLC of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Msnaughtybynature will be back in action on Hoosier Champions Night, Saturday, July 10. She will be competing against the top three-year-old trotting fillies in the state for the $200,000 final of the Indiana Sires Stakes. Purses for Hoosier Champions will top the $1 million mark for the second straight time during the 2010 Standardbred meet.
(Hoosier Park)