Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings took center stage at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with four $47,973 divisions of their opening leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes on Thursday, July 10 with Swan Affect and driver LeWayne Miller headlining with a 1:55.3 mile in the quickest split at 9-1.
Leaving from the outside post eight, Miller floated Swan Affect away in sixth but was caught wide on the first turn as a host of leavers scrambled for the lead, with Swan Jayden (Marcus Miller) reaching the quarter first inside of August Salazar (Geremy Bobbitt) in :28.4. August Salazar worked to the lead before being covered up by Sunday Swagger (Kyle Wilfong) on the backstretch, leaving Swan Affect now first-up and marching to the front at the half in :57.3. Swan Affect finally saw the cones for the first time entering the final turn, clearing to the lead before reaching three-quarters in 1:27.
Turning for home, Sunday Swagger popped the pocket and applied pressure to Swan Affect, who quickly responded under urging. Trotting home in :28.3, Swan Affect raced gamely on the lead to hold Sunday Swagger at bay by a half-length in 1:55.3. Muscle Technician (Trace Tetrick) rallied up the cones to be third, three lengths behind the winner.
Trained by Walter Haynes Jr., the victory was the first for Swan Affect in his second outing after finishing second in his career debut. McGill, who co-bred the gelding with Lavon Miller, also co-owns the son of Swan For All-Flower Hour along with Twoforone Stable.
In the first split, Mcmikenmike and driver Marcus Miller pulled a 9-1 upset to score in 1:56.2. Skyway Awestruck (Mike Peterson) took command after the quarter of :27.3 before controlling middle-half fractions of :57.4 and 1:28.2. Pulling from fourth on the cones turning for home, Mcmikenmike overcame a 6-1/2 length deficit and a broken head pole with a :26.4 last quarter to nail Skyway Awestruck by a nose on the line. Hawt Yoga (Ricky Macomber Jr.) charged up the rail to be third, three parts of a length back.
It was the maiden-breaking victory for the Erv Miller-trained Mcmikenmike, who is owned by Anthony Lombardi, Doug Overhiser, and George Golemes. The gelded son of Dont Letem-Myrna Myrna was bred by Luckiana Farm.
Great Commission laid claim to the third division, romping in his career debut in 1:57.3. Great Commission got away fifth for Aaron Stutzman in the early stages while Bravo Alpha (Doug Rideout) worked to the top at the quarter in :28. Meadowbrook Ryan (Clint Coy) brushed to the lead just past the half in :58, leaving Great Commission to his outside and driving to engage the new leader at three-quarters in 1:28.1. Great Commission put away Meadowbrook Ryan at the top of the stretch, coasting home with a motionless Stutzman in the bike to win by 3-1/4 lengths. Spring Street (Macomber) finished second, with Bravo Alpha holding for third.
Great Commission, a Helpisontheway-Majic Trend colt, is trained by Stutzman for James Miller. He was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables.
In the fourth and final division, Premier Bluebird rebounded from a defeat in his last outing with a dominant score with driver John De Long. Premier Bluebird floated away in fourth early while 6-5 second choice Itoo Volo (Trace Tetrick) cut the opening quarter in :28.2. Itoo Volo had things his way to the half in :58.1 before carrying a two-length advantage to three-quarters in 1:28.3 when De Long right-lined Premier Bluebird from fourth. Gobbling up ground with a :27.2 last quarter, Premier Bluebird quickly chased down Itoo Volo before powering clear by three lengths in a career-best 1:56.4. Itoo Volo held sway for second, with Winnin Dallars (Macomber) finishing third at 64-1.
Zach Miller trains and co-owns Premier Bluebird along with Dessa Miller. The $6,250 bargain buy at last fall’s Hoosier Classic sale is now a three-time winner and yet to be worse than second in five outings. Daryl Miller and Dennis Bontrager bred the son of Pilot Discretion-Winery Hanover.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, July 11 with a 14-race program set to begin at 6:15 p.m. The Friday card features a pair of Indiana Sire Stakes divisions for the two-year-old pacing males in addition to a $7,500 guaranteed Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) and Late Hoosier High 5 (Race 14), with the latter done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
(With files from Hoosier Park)