It was a tale of two divisions on Tuesday, July 29 as Harrah’s Hoosier Park hosted a pair of splits of Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies with Tell It Like This scoring as the longest shot on the board to break her maiden in the first division, and Somemore Blue dominating as the 1-9 favourite and staying unbeaten in the second division.
Tell It Like This teamed up with leading driver Trace Tetrick where they left from post five in the field of six at 10-1 on the board in the $91,096 first division. Tell It Like This floated away in fifth early while Cruisen Halle (Mike Oosting) sprinted out to an early lead to grab control through a :26.2 first quarter. The pace began to slow on the backstretch before Miss Alexis (Marcus Miller) charged first-over from third to take over before reaching the half in :56.3. Miss Alexis raced 2-1/2 lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:26 while Tell It Like This still had 6-1/2 lengths to make up from fifth before having to swing wide around Whoomp (John De Long) who jumped it off at the top of the stretch.
The sprint for home began with Miss Alexis looking to steal a victory off a soft middle half and Cruisen Halle now in hot pursuit while Tell It Like This began to find her best stride in the middle of the track. Rocketing home in :25.4, Tell It Like This surged late in the lane to pick off both rivals and score by a length in 1:53. Cruisen Halle got up in the final strides to nail Miss Alexis for the place position.
Trained by Ron Burke, Tell It Like This now has one win and a pair of thirds through three starts in her young career. The daughter of Tellitlikeitis-Atomic Fireball has banked $59,041 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Beasty LLC., Frank Baldachino and Knox Services.
The $91,781 second division held much truer to form as Somemore Blue and Marcus Miller led every step of the way to remained undefeated on the season. Somemore Blue quickly asserted herself from post three, getting to the top to cut the opening quarter in :27.2. The field showed their respect to the 1-9 shot in the middle half, allowing her to go unchallenged to a half of :56.4 before reaching three-quarters in 1:26 and 1-1/2 lengths clear of pocket-sitter Rock The Charm (John De Long).
Rock The Charm took her shot from the pocket at the top of the lane but was quickly rebuffed by Somemore Blue who countered and quickened under minimal Miller urging. Powering home in :26.2, Somemore Blue sped through the wire 2-1/4 lengths clear in a career best 1:52.2 over Rock The Charm who fended off Milliondollarimage (Jay Cross) for second.
Trained by Erv Miller, Somemore Blue is now three-for-three for owners Doug Overhiser, Kenneth Duffy, Lava Java Stable and Never 2 Late Stable. The winning daughter of Rockin Image-Misssomebeach Blue has banked $98,137 in her young career.
Racing continues on Wednesday (July 30) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 14-race card highlighted by a $96,000 USD lone division of Indiana Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies, and two $66,000 USD Sire Stakes divisions for freshman pacing colts. With a first post of 5:30 p.m., Wednesday will also offer $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and Late Hoosier High 5 (race 14) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
(Hoosier Park)