Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to the first two-year-old Indiana Sires Stakes event of the season on Tuesday, July 21, as the juvenile trotting fillies opened their season in three divisions.
Country Girl Charm
In the opening division, it was the undefeated filly, Country Girl Charm, who continued her winning ways to deliver as the 1-9 favourite. With trainer/driver/co-owner LeWayne Miller in the sulky, Country Girl Charm bested her rivals by nearly three lengths in 1:57.1 over a track rated 'good.'
After having sat fourth for the first-half of the mile, Country Girl Charm made her move just after the half and reached the front with authority. Country Girl used a :27.4 final panel to hold off a late surge from Treasure Gems K and Trace Tetrick. As the heavy betting favourite, Country Girl Charm returned $2.20 to her backers at the betting windows.
“She has trained down great,” Miller noted. “She’s done everything right up to this point and we are really excited about her future.”
With the win, the daughter of Whom Shall I Fear-Tymal Tatiana recorded her third consecutive victory of the season. Country Girl Charm has now bankrolled $24,750 for the ownership partnership of Ryan Raber, Darvin Wagler, LeWayne Miller and Susan Garrels. Country Girl Charm was bred by Daniel Frey.
Swift Swanda
In the second division of the stakes action, Trace Tetrick steered Swift Swanda to a decisive 1:57.2 score in what was her Harrah’s Hoosier Park debut. Uninvolved in the early stages of the race, Tetrick was able to work out a perfect second-over trip and Swift Swanda used a :27.1 closing kick to seal the deal. Bad Shot and Marlin Fry finished second. As the 2-5 favourite, Swift Swanda returned $2.80 at the betting windows. Trained by Erv Miller, Swift Swanda is now two for two in her young career.
Owned in partnership by Anthony Lombardi and The Kales Company, the daughter of Swan For All-Cheetah Hall established a new lifetime best with the victory. Swift Swanda has now earned $18,700 in purse earnings and was bred by Lavon Miller.
The 'favourite' trend continued in the third and final division of the stakes action, as Four Under Par and Doug Rideout were victorious in 1:58. Four Under Par took control just before the half and never looked back. The filly cruised home in :28.1 to notch the win by nearly three lengths over Real Diamonds K and Trace Tetrick. Sent off as the 7-5 second favourite, Four Under Par returned $4.80 to her backers at the betting windows.
“All winter I thought she was a very nice filly,” Rideout noted after the win. “Obviously, it took getting her here to really find out what we had, but we are very happy with her.”
Rideout also trains the filly, who scored her second career win in what was her third lifetime start. The daughter of Swan For All-Saucy is owned in partnership by Julie Rideout, Alan White, and Dave Gamble and has now earned $18,250 in purse earnings. Four Under Par was bred Michael Wilt.
Indiana Sires Stakes action for the juvenile competitors will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 22. The evening’s 14-race card will feature two $41,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. The evening’s 14-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 pool in the last race of the program.
The 2020 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will feature 111 racing programs and follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule throughout the season. With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing will be conducted through November 21. For more information on the live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
(Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino)