Peter Wrenn began the defense of his leading driver title at Indiana Downs with a fast start Monday, July 25. The veteran driver collected victories in six of 13 races on the opening night card, the first of 80 programs to be offered at the Shelbyville track. The 13-race card generated $442,648 in handle, a record for an opening-night harness program at Indiana Downs.
Wrenn wasted little time reaching the winner’s circle, as he piloted the Jim Arledge-trained Pop Art K to a 1:54.3 win in the evening’s first race. The six-year-old son of Arturo, sent off at 12-1, edged the favoured Dr Alexander B by half a length at the wire. Wrenn would win again in the fifth race with favored Pilgrims Chief, and successfully steered Lifes Devotion, Revenue Rally and Ray’s Western to opening night scores.
Four $10,400 contests for Indiana-sired freshman filly pacers served as the featured events. Wrenn claimed victory in the third division, as he piloted the favoured Kerosene to a two-and-one-quarter-length advantage in a time of 1:57.3. The homebred I Scoot Hanover filly, out of the Slapstick mare Color Me K, is owned and trained by Krista Williams. She is now two-for-three in her young career.
Favourite Misschipbyart wired the field in the first of four divisions, as she stopped the clock in 1:57.3. Owned by Jonas Graber, the Arts Chip filly won by three and one-quarter lengths for trainer Jacob Graber. Mark Graber sat behind the filly, already a winner in three of six seasonal starts.
Moms Gone Fishing, another I Scoot Hanover filly, narrowly captured the second division with a 1:57.1 performance. Trained and driven by Joe Putnam, the freshman outlasted second-choice American Girl by a head at the wire. Bred and owned by Carrie Putnam, Moms Gone Fishing returned $10.40 with the win, her second in four starts.
The final division also produced a close finish, as Our Lady Fitz held off Fsolado Bluegrass by a head at the line in 1:58.3. The Keystone Endeavor filly was piloted by Dave Magee for trainer Alan Riegle. Bred by Faron Parr and owned by Kirby Sutton and Shala Urlage, the victory was the second straight for Our Lady Fitz, a previous winner on the fair circuit.
(Indiana Downs)