Round five of the Indiana Sire Stakes for the three-year-old colt pacers highlighted the 14-race card on Friday, July 19 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Two divisions were featured on the evening, with Tellmeitmatters and Sabonis delivering as heavy favourites to keep their seasonal win streaks alive.
Sent off as the 2-5 favourite in the $67,123 first division, Tellmeitmatters (pictured above) teamed up with regular pilot John De Long from post four in the field of five searching for his fifth straight win. The action was hot early as Premier Romeo (Kyle Wilfong) crossed over from the far outside to take command before Packedwithluck (Trace Tetrick) surged to the front at the quarter in :26.2. Tellmeitmatters settled in third on the first turn before Packedwithluck went unchallenged on the lead to the half in :55.
Entering the far turn, De Long gave Tellmeitmatters his marching orders, quickly moving first-over into second while Packedwithluck led to three-quarters in 1:23.
Turning for home, Tellmeitmatters made quick work of Packedwithluck, powering away to a 2-1/2-length lead midway down the lane. Scooting home in :26.1, Tellmeitmatters charged home to a three-length victory to stop the timer in 1:49.2. Premier Romeo finished second and Bitofbitterbutter (Marvin Luna) rallied for third.
Trained by Roger Welch, Tellmeitmatters is now five-for-six on the year, having banked $154,371 this season. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters was bred by owners William C. and William P. De Long and has now earned $317,050 in his career.
Sabonis scored his sixth straight victory of the season as the 1-9 favourite in the $67,808 second division with Joey Putnam in the bike. Sabonis secured the pocket from post two in the scratched down field of five with Jay Cross sending M Ms Bud to the front in a quarter of :27.
The quintet remained single-file to the half in :56.1 before Sabonis edged from the two-hole to reach the leader’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:24.2.
Sabonis put his nose in front turning for home, but M Ms Bud was not going to go quietly, responding gamely under Cross urging. The duo battled for the length of the lane before Sabonis crossed the wire first a half-length in front of the stubborn M Ms Bud in 1:50.3. Stat That (LeWayne Miller) secured third to round out the trifecta.
The Aaron Stutzman trainee is now a winner in nine of 10 starts for his three-year-old campaign with $196,345 in seasonal earnings for owner Pat Miller. Karl Dean Miller bred the colt by Tellitlikeitis out of the Roll With Joe mare, Gypsy Bellevue.
Racing concludes for the week at Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 20 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. The Jackpot Pick Six (Races 7-12) will have a carryover of $23,925.34 on Saturday.
(Hoosier Park)