Indiana Sire Stakes action continued at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with round one of six for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday, July 11. Three divisions highlighted the 14-race card with Twofiftychamp, Tarzan and Eugene The Genius all remaining perfect in their young careers.
Twofiftychamp kicked off the stakes action in the $63,014 first division, having to overcome the far outside post eight in addition to seven foes. Driver Kurt Sugg sent Twofiftychamp immediately to the front off of the gate, sprinting two lengths clear at the quarter in :28.1 with Mehelpingyou (John De Long) in the pocket. Twofiftytwo received a breather to the half in :58.2 before the lead duo began to slip away from the pack on the final turn at three-quarters in 1:27.3.
Turning for home, the top two trotted well clear of the remainder of the field with Twofiftychamp extending his length to 2-1/2 lengths over Mehelpingyou midway down the lane. Twofiftychamp trotted confidently to the wire, stopping the clock in 1:55, 1-1/2 lengths clear of Mehelpingyou. Jenius (Kyle Husted) finished third at 71-1, 8-1/2 lengths back of the leader. Twofiftychamp paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favourite.
Trained by Edward Miller for owners Serenity Racing Stables, Twofiftychamp is now two-for-two in his young career. From the first crop of stallion Fiftydallarbill, Twofiftychamp is out of the Possess The Will mare, Peachy Georgia, and was bred by Daniel Lee Stoll.
Tarzan kicked off his career in style emerging atop an action-packed mile in the $63,014 second division. Leaving from post three, driver Trace Tetrick settled Tarzan fourth early while Oli Canoli (Doug Rideout) worked to the lead outside of 3-5 favourite Fruit Snacker (Kyle Wilfong) at the quarter in :28.1. Oli Canoli cleared briefly before Kody Kickstand (Ricky Macomber Jr.) moved from third to take command at the halfway point in :58.2. Tetrick moved Tarzan to the outside on the backstretch, finding the short-lived cover of Fruit Snacker, who moved around Oli Canoli before moving back against the pylons in second. Kody Kickstand brought the field to three-quarters in 1:27.3 while Tarzan moved into second on the outside on the final turn.
At the top of the stretch, Kody Kickstand faced a two-pronged attack with Tarzan continuing to press to his outside and Fruit Snacker finding room against the pylons to make it a three-across battle for the lead. Tarzan gained a short advantage in deep stretch over Fruit Snacker, under siege at that point from a hard-charging Siesta Sandman (Dennis Duford), who was rolling late on the wide side. Tarzan reached the wire first by a quarter of a length over Siesta Sandman in 1:56.2. Fruit Snacker finished third just a half-length behind the winner. Tarzan returned $11 to win for his backers at the betting windows.
Trained by Erv Miller, Tarzan is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Anthony Lombardi. Bred by Keith Plank, Tarzan is a gelded son of You Know You Do out of the Swan For All mare, Foxy Swan.
In the other $63,699 division, Eugene The Genius trotted smartly to his second victory in as many career outings with driver Mike Oosting aboard. Euguene The Genius made quick work of post seven, trotting quickly to the lead and in command of the field of nine at the quarter in :28.3. The 1-5 favourite Starlitfanknstein (Trace Tetrick) moved from the pocket spot to grab command from Eugene The Genius on the way to the half in :58.2. Starlitfranknstein trotted to three-quarters in 1:28.2 under a firm hold with Eugune The Genius hot on the Tetrick helmet.
The sprint begun in the lane with Eugene The Genius popping the pocket but spotting Starlitfanknstein 1-1/2 lengths at the eighth pole. Picking up steam at the edge of the toteboard, Eugene The Genius nailed Stalitfranknstein on the wire by a neck with a :27.3 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:56.1. Sure Did (Jay Cross) rallied to finish third. Eugene The Genius paid $10 to win as the 4-1 second choice.
Eugene The Genius is trained by Missy Essig for owners Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver. The victory was a lifetime best for the gelded son of Helpisontheway-Muscle Baby Doll who was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables.
Racing continues on Friday, July 11 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 14-race card featuring two divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for the two-year-old pacing colts. Bettors will have a $12,816 carryover in the Jackpot Pick 6 (Races 8-13) to look forward to along with $7,500 guaranteed Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) and $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High 5 (Race 14). The Friday card gets underway with a first post of 6:15 p.m.
(Hoosier Park)