A winner’s circle celebration the Tetrick family won’t soon forget occurred on Wednesday, July 2 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as leading driver Trace Tetrick marched to his 8,000th career victory aboard Green River who is trained by his brother, Tom Tetrick, in the night’s 10th race.
Entering the night three wins away from his milestone, Tetrick picked up victories in the second race with Manhattan Flash ($15.20, 1:58) for trainer Matt Rheinheimer as well as the fourth race behind Concert Master T ($4.20, 1:53.2) for Tyler George. After a couple of close calls throughout the middle portion of the card, the stage was set for Tetrick to break through aboard the first-time starter, Green River.
Leaving from post seven as the 5-2 second choice, Tetrick wheeled Green River to the top of the field of eight maiden two-year-old pacing fillies through a quarter of :29. Margarita Tina (Jared Seekman) popped the pocket and assumed command from Green River to the half in :59.3 before bringing the fillies to three-quarters in 1:29.2. Tetrick fed Green River racetrack at the top of the stretch, quickly revving up and pulling alongside the race favourite midway through the lane. Rocketing home in :26.3, Green River pushed past Margarita Tina to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56. Odds On Candy (Peter Wrenn) finished third. The winning daughter of Capt Midnight-Shesa Bragn Dragon is owned by Teagan Sage.
Greeted in the winner’s circle by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Chloe, Trace Tetrick hails from the racing royalty that is the Tetrick family. Trace is the son of Mary Alice and the late Tom D. Tetrick, and brother to both Tom T. and Hall of Famer Tim Tetrick. The 38-year-old Illinois native began driving in 2003 and has since become one of the premier names in the sport. Trace Tetrick has been dominant at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, where he has won the last 11 driving titles, and currently sits atop the driver standings in search of what would be his 14th title overall at Hoosier. He has also notched numerous driving titles at Miami Valley to go along with three Breeders Crown victories, as well as a Jugette in 2014 aboard Colors A Virgin. Trace Tetrick now zeroes in on $100 million in career earnings, with his career steers racking up over $90.3 million USD in earnings.
Trace Tetrick tacked on career victory 8,001 in the nightcap with Rockpaperscissors ($5.40, 1:52.2) to lead all drivers on the night with four wins. Tom Tetrick’s two winners on the night were joined by a pair of winners from both the Erv Miller and Trent Stohler barns to lead the training side of the program.
Live racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday, July 3 with a 14-race card set to begin at 6:15 p.m. The Anderson oval will also host a 10-race Fourth of July card on Friday, complete with live music, food trucks, Vanilla Bean Creamery, and fireworks at the conclusion of live racing. First post on Independence Day is also 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)