A full field of 11 lined up behind the starting gate for the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 29 and it was Canadian-owned Sweet Talkin Satin who romped home a winner in 1:50.3.
With Trace Tetrick at the lines, Sweet Talkin Satin used a perfect pocket trip to establish a lifetime-best mark in the third round of the sire stakes action and equal the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings in the process. The current track record for three-year-old pacing geldings was set by Beeeeyouuuuuu and driver Brad Hanners on June 14, 2008.
Leaving from the coveted rail position, Sweet Talkin Satin left just enough to secure his spot while the rest of the field battled for early position. Sweet Talkin Satin reached the front through the opening panel in :26.1 while Astreos Love, driven by Don Eash, was well placed in second.
Sweet Talkin Satin’s lead was short-lived as he was quickly contested down the backside by Night Pro and Jason Dillander, who cleared to the front at the half-mile mark in :55.1.
Sam Widger was the first to take aim at the leader as he had Nitro out and firing with stablemate Virgil and Ricky Macomber Jr. in tow approaching the final turn. Night Pro continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:23.3 as the rest of the field closed in.
Virgil reached the leader’s wheel while Tetrick and Sweet Talkin Satin sat patiently in the pocket. Right Touch and driver Ray Paver tipped three-wide off of tiring cover and poised a large threat on the far outside, but was no match for Sweet Talkin Satin from the pocket. With a :26.4 final panel, Sweet Talkin Satin found racing room late in the stretch to reach the wire first. Night Pro finished a game second while Right Touch battled rigorously to finish third.
As the public's choice, Sweet Talkin Satin returned $4.60 for the victory.
Trained by Tom Tetrick, Sweet Talkin Satin notched the third win of his sophomore season from nine seasonal starts. The three-year-old gelded son of Always A Virgin sent his career bankroll over the $100,000 mark for owners Jim Ainsworth of Sarnia, Ont. and William Boden of Vancouver, B.C. Sweet Talkin Satin made his second Hoosier Park appearance after finishing second in the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack three starts ago.
Hoosier Park’s leading driver Trace Tetrick scored a driving triple on the eight-race card, also scoring with Time To Roll for trainer Tom Simmons and Ohmygosh Hanover for trainer Tom Tetrick. Last year’s leading driver, Tetrick currently leads all drivers at Hoosier Park with 98 wins from 682 starts.
The fourth and final round of Indiana Sire Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings is slated for July 13 with the $200,000 final on July 20 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
(With files from Hoosier Park)