Top sophomore pacing fillies Somemore Blue and Whoomp hooked up for the fourth time this season in the $132,394 fifth leg of Indiana Sire Stakes at Hoosier Park on Friday, July 24 and left the night with the series evened at two apiece as Somemore Blue turned the tables on her arch-rival after a thrilling stretch duel in 1:49.4 for the father and son team of Erv and Marcus Miller.
Away from post two as the even-money second choice, driver Marcus Miller was intent on securing control from the outset, firing Somemore Blue off the wings and forcing Whoomp (John De Long) to take the pocket seat as the duo blitzed to the opening quarter in :25.3. After the dust settled from the early skirmish, Miller tapped the brakes on the backstretch as Somemore Blue took the field of six to the halfway point in :54.3. The top pair began to separate from the rest on the far turn, with Miller kicking out the plugs in preparation for the stretch battle and Whoomp beginning to edge from the pocket at three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Somemore Blue turned into the stretch sharply, leaving Whoomp a length and a half to make up as the fillies sped to the eighth pole. Whoomp began to do her best work late, cutting into the deficit but she could not reach as Somemore Blue held her at bay by a neck on the wire in 1:49.4. Its My Story (Brandon Bates) rallied from last to be third, 4-1/4 lengths behind the top pair at 31-1.
Somemore Blue has won four of her six race on the year, with her lone two defeats being runner-up efforts to Whoomp. For her career, the daughter of Rockin Image-Missomebeach Blue has won 11 of 16 starts, banking nearly $630,000 lifetime for owners Stepbystep Racing of Davenport, Florida, Ken Duffy of Orland Park, Illinois, Lava Java Stable of Louisville, Kentucky and Never 2 Late Stable of Greenlawn, New York.
Somemore Blue returned $4 to win as the even-money second choice to Whoomp.
The stakes score was one of five victories on the night for Marcus Miller, who won the first three races on the card aboard Six Sticks Of Gum ($5.60) in 1:49.3 for trainer Chuck Groen, Bundoran N ($5.80) in 1:50.4 for John Kay and Miss Alexis ($17.60) in 1:51.4) forJeff Cullipher before tacking on one more late with Open 3 winner Sanday A ($7.80) in 1:51.2 for Kay.
Earlier on the card, Golden Bay N staged a late rally to score in the $30,986 Open 1-2 Handicap Pace with Trace Tetrick aboard for Tyler George.
Away from post five in the field of seven, Golden Bay N settled into the pocket while MMs Bud (John De Long) circled him to cut the quarter in a blistering :25.3. The tempo slowed on the backstretch, with MMs Bud reaching the half in :54.4 before Coach Stefanos (Marcus Miller) began a first-over rally from fifth. Coach Stefanos stormed to the leader's wheel on the far turn, with MMs Bud reaching three-quarters in 1:23.1 while Golden Bay N stalked the duelling leaders.
Coach Stefanos put away MMs Bud at the head of the lane, powering clear before Golden Bay N swung off the cones and took aim at the leader. Rolling home in :26.2, Golden Bay N rallied by the game Coach Stefanos to win by a half-length in 1:49.4. Crooked Smile (Jordan Ross) rallied from the backfield to grab the show spot over MMs Bud.
Golden Bay N has now won five of his 14 races on the year for owners Castaldo Racing Stable of Addison, Illinois and T G Stable of Anderson, Indiana. The seven-year-old Downbytheseaside-Hug Me Squeeze Me gelding has $385,569 in his career while winning 26 races.
Golden Bay N paid $5 to win as the 3-2 bettors' choice.
The week of racing concludes at Hoosier Park on Saturday with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The second leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies highlights the card. There will $7,500 USD guarantees in the Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and Late High 5 (race 14) offered in partnership with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program.
Saturday at Hoosier also serves as the annual Empire of Hope, an event dedicated to raising funds for the Standardbred Transition Alliance. Fundraising opportunities will be available throughout the property, in addition to family fun entertainment, food trucks, giveaways and a free Amish country dinner on the track apron for guests beginning at 5 p.m. while supplies last.
(With files from Hoosier Park)