Indiana Sire Stakes returned to Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, July 26, with the fifth leg for both the three-year-old trotting and pacing fillies. A lone $130,822 division for the trotting fillies was won by the streaking Hail Broadway, while Lets Go Endofaera and Lyin Eyes delivered as favourites in the two $66,438 pacing divisions.
Hail Broadway (pictured above) was sent off as the 8-5 favourite in the field of nine trotting fillies, leaving from post two in search of her third consecutive victory of the season and second in Sire Stakes action. Driver Jordan Ross was aggressive off of the gate with Hail Broadway, engaging in an early speed duel with Black Gold (James Yoder) as the two tangled to the quarter in a blistering :26.2.
Black Gold won the early battle, taking command of the spread out field on the backstretch with Yoder keeping the pedal down to the half in :54.3. Hail Broadway began to reel the leader in on the final turn, moving within two lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4.
Turning for home, Hail Broadway tipped from the pocket and quickly took charge from the leg-weary Black Gold. Trotting home in :28.1, Hail Broadway cruised to a 1-3/4 length victory in a lifetime best 1:52.2. Danger (Kevin Lambright) rallied for second, with Skyway Paige (LeWayne Miller) finishing third.
Trained by Luis Quevedo, Hail Broadway is now a winner in four of eight in her 2024 campaign. The homebred daughter of Swan For All-Pray With Me is closing in on $200,000 in lifetime earnings for owner John Barnard.
The Jesse De Long homebred Lets Go Endofaera didn’t disappoint as she took the first Sire Stakes split for three-year-old pacing fillies as the 1-5 favourite. Regular pilot John De Long landed the favourite in second in the field of six early while All JK (Trace Tetrick) steamrolled from the outside to a :26.1 first quarter.
The field remained in straight alignment behind All JK to the half in :54.3 before she led to three-quarters in 1:23. De Long pulled the right line at the top of the stretch, quickly moving Lets Go Endofaera alongside All JK.
All JK proved stubborn before Lets Go Endofaera surged home to power away late in the lane by 2-1/4 lengths to stop to time in a career best 1:49.3. All JK held for place, with Flirtin Fanera (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallying for third.
A winner in four of five starts in her three-year-old campaign (all in the Sire Stakes), the defending divisional champion Lets Go Endofaera is trained by Tabby De Long. The victory vaulted the career bankroll for the daughter of JK Endofaera-Lets Go Higher just over $460,000 for owners John, William C. and Jesse De Long.
The win was one of four on the night for John De Long, who led all drivers on the 13-race card.
Lyin Eyes immediately followed suit with a score as the even-money favourite in the second split for pacing fillies. Driver Joey Putnam got Lyin Eyes away third in the field of six while Defining Moment (Devon Tharps) cut the opening quarter in :26.2.
Jada Caroline (Marvin Luna) popped the pocket and took command up the backstretch to take the field to the half in :55.4. Entering the final turn, Putnam gave Lyin’ Eyes her cue, marching first-over from third to pull within three-lengths of Jada Caroline at three-quarters in 1:24.1.
Lyin Eyes kicked it in gear at the top of the stretch, surging to look the leader in the eyes midway down the lane. From there, Lyin Eyes thundered home in :26.2 to scoot away by 1-1/4 lengths on the line in 1:51.1 for her second Sire Stakes score this season. Teelatini (Pete Wrenn) split rivals in the lane to finish second, with Jada Caroline finishing third.
The Joe Putnam-trained daughter of Odds On Equuleus-Miswave Hanover is now a winner of half of her six starts this season, having yet to finish worse than second on the year. Bred by Silver Linden Farms, Lyin Eyes has banked nearly $290,000 for owners J P Racing, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm.
The week of racing concludes at Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 27 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. The card will also feature a record-breaking carryover of $37,990.03 in the Jackpot Pick 6 in Races 7-12.
Also on Saturday, Hoosier will host the fifth annual Empire of Hope day. The Empire of Hope event is dedicated to raise funds for the after care of retired racehorses, with all proceeds directly benefitting the Standardbred Transition Alliance to assist efforts to relocate, rehabilitate and repurpose retired Standardbred racehorses. Festivities for Empire of Hope are slated to begin at 2 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)