Shirley Goodness and James Yoder pulled a 9-1 upset in Wednesday (July 28) evening's $93,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies, holding off her stablemates in 1:54.1 as LeWayne Miller trainees swept the trifecta.
Leaving from post two, Shirley Goodness got away in mid-pack while Queen Of All (Doug Rideout) dictated fractions of :27 and :56.1 with Dewtifuls Grace (Verlin Yoder) benefitting from a pocket trip. As the field approached the final turn, James Yoder gave Shirley Goodness the green light and she began her quest to the front. The field reached the three-quarters in 1:25.3, and Dewtifuls Grace looked poised to strike from the pocket.
As the field turned for home, Shirley Goodness found her best strides and used a :28 closing kick to track down the pacesetters and then hold off a late surge from a rapidly-closing Country Girl Charm and LeWayne Miller. Country Girl Charm finished second while Dewtifuls Grace rounded out the trifecta.
Shirley Goodness, a daughter of Swan For All and Stirling Debutant, recorded her second win from five seasonal starts, and the 1:54.1 clocking was a new lifetime best. Shirley Goodness is owned in partnership by Bill Beechy, Brad Maxwell and Kenneth Frieder and was bred by Alan and Larry Troyer of Indiana. She returned $20.20 to win.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday (July 29) with two $48,000 divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Thursday’s 14-race card will also feature a $30,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool with a carryover of $8,327, and the early Pick-5 will feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool with a $2,701 carryover. For more information, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.
(Harrah's Hoosier Park)