Two-time 2012 Indiana Sire Stakes champion Always About Katey returned to her winning ways and captured the featured event, the second round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 7.
After a second-place finish in the opening round, Always About Katey notched her first win of the season in a lifetime-best performance of 1:52.3.
Leaving from post two, Ed Hensley eased Always About Katey off the gate and landed along the rail in third. As part of a three-horse, Ron Burke-trained entry, Ricky Macomber Jr. asked Mystic Karissa to leave the gate alertly from post four and the duo reached the front through the opening quarter in :27.2. Two Green Peppers and Charlie Conrad were well placed in second as Harmony Oaks Quike and Mike Micallef followed intently in third.
Hensley, unable to wait any longer, made his middle move a winning one as he began his quest for the front and had Always About Katey in the outer flow down the backside through the half-mile time in :56. Mystic Karissa yielded the front to Always About Katey as the field began to tighten and prepare for the stretch drive.
Maddys Fantasy, driven by LeWayne Miller, began the first-over attack around the final turn and reached the leader’s wheel before Always About Katey kicked in to another gear. With a :28.2 final quarter, Always About Katey was able to hold off a late charge from Two Green Peppers and put away all other rivals to finish a length in front. Two Green Peppers took advantage of a pocket trip to finish second while Harmony Oaks Quike finished third. As the public’s second choice, Always About Katey returned $7.20 to her backers.
Trained by Roger Welch, Always About Katey won her 11th start in 15 lifetime outings. The daughter of Always A Virgin has amassed over $420,000 lifetime for her connections of William C. DeLong, William P. DeLong, and Katey McClymont. Winning both of the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, Always About Katey won 10 of 12 outings in 2012 while earning $406,000.
The third round of Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action for three-year-old pacing fillies will return to Hoosier Park on Friday, June 28. The top 10 point-earners in the four legs will return for the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes final that is slated for July 20 at Hoosier Park.
The Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park on Saturday, June 8 with two divisions of three-year-old pacing colts going postward for $30,000. The Indiana Sire Stakes two-year-old pacing colt champion, Right Touch, was a winner in the opening round of the sire stakes and will start from post two in the evening’s second race.
(With files from Hoosier Park)