Four divisions of the $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighted the 14-race card at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 28. It was a night for favourites, as all four of the divisions were won by the public's betting choice.
Slingshot Shooter and Mike Peterson set the tone for the evening as they delivered as the heavy favourites in the opening round of the stakes action in 1:51.1. The win was the fourth of the season and a lifetime-best performance for the Gary Hayes trainee.
Leaving from post five, Slingshot Shooter landed along the rail in fourth while Sand Gunner and LeWayne Miller got the first call through an opening quarter in :26.2. Peterson wouldn’t wait long as he sent Slingshot Shooter to the front. The son of Sand Shooter-Make It Cozy rattled off fractions of :53.3 and 1:22.2 before turning back the pocket-sitting Tylers Z Tam and Trace Tetrick late in the lane. Slingshot Shooter finished three lengths to the good and returned $3.00 at the betting window.
Owned by Hayes, Slingshot Shooter has now won four of seven seasonal starts while amassing $91,176 lifetime. Slingshot Shooter has finished on the board in five of seven starts while earning $49,125 throughout his sophomore campaign.
In the very next race, Speed Trap looked every bit the part of a 4-5 favourite as he staged a big rally late in the lane to put a nose in front of Next Thing Smoken in 1:52. Driven by regular driver Ricky Macomber Jr., it was the second consecutive win for Speed Trap and second seasonal win from six starts. As the heavy betting favourite, Speed Trap returned $3.60 to his backers at the window.
Leaving from the outside post nine, Speed Trap was uninvolved in the early stages of the race while Next Thing Smoken and Peter Wrenn carved out fractions of :27.1, :55.4, and 1:24. As the field turned for home, Speed Trap was well placed in the outer flow but would have his work cut out for him. Using a :26.4 final panel, Speed Trap powered home to put a nose in front of Next Thing Smoken at the wire.
Trained by Ron Burke, Speed Trap has now won eight of 15 lifetime starts while amassing $94,175 lifetime. The son of United Ace-Cyber Cities is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Larry Karr.
In the third split of the stakes action, If I Lose and Trace Tetrick used a sharp, front-running effort to score in their division in 1:51.3. The win was the first of the season for If I Lose and a lifetime-best performance.
Leaving from the coveted rail position, If I Lose was sent firing from the gate but Mystical Shooter and LeWayne Miller also left alertly to get the first call in :27.1. Tetrick gave If I Lose the green light and the duo rattled off middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:24 before ever feeling a threat. As the field turned for home, If I Lose found another gear and used a :27.3 final quarter to win by eight lengths. As the public's choice, If I Lose returned $4.80 at the windows.
Trained by Brett Selby, who also co-owns the gelding with Lidia Zych, If I Lose has now won five of 20 lifetime outings while earning $60,645 lifetime. The gelded son of Geartogear-Western Starlight notched the first win of the season from seven seasonal outings.
In the final division of the stakes action, Bluehourpower returned to his winning ways to score in 1:51.3. Suffering his first loss of the season last week, Bluehourpower used his customary late charging tactics to score his third win of the season.
Driven by Sam Widger, Bluehourpower kicked home with a :26.4 last quarter to hit the wire a length in front of the front-running Always At My Place and Brad Hanners. Bluehourpower was able to overcome a tough, first over trip to get the job done.
Trained and owned by Wilbur Eash, Bluehourpower has now won seven of 15 lifetime starts and three of four seasonal starts. The son of Sand Shooter-Blue Hour has now amassed $296,094 with three Indiana Sires Stakes finals to his credit.
Each of the divisional winners from the four Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations earned a spot in the second of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings slated for July 5 at Hoosier Park.
(Hoosier Park)