A new week of racing kicked-off at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Tuesday (July 30) with Indiana Sire Stakes action throughout the 13-race card. Three divisions of round two for the two-year-old trotting fillies and two for the trotting colts were featured on the night.
The first of three $63,889 splits for trotting fillies saw Woodside Izz close from the clouds to remain perfect in her young career. Woodside Izz got away sixth in the field of eight early as Fifty Dollar Not (driven by Wyatt Avenatti) laid down wicked first half fractions of :26.3 and :56.2. The opening half took its toll on the leader who bowed out on the final turn setting up what looked to be a duel between longshots Mclady Of Hearts (Ricky Macomber Jr.) and Sweetasmoni (Kyle Wilfong). However, Woodside Izz flew home in :27.2 to nail Mclady Of Hearts by a head in a three-across finish in a career best 1:55.2.
Trained by Susan Miller, Woodside Izz is now two-for-two for owners L&S Racing, Richard Freese, Platinum Stables and Matthew Lamont. Bred by Lester Beechy, the daughter of Dover Dan-Diamond Peak has now banked $63,109.
The second division saw Martz Seven and Mike Peterson emerge atop yet another three-across finish. Peterson secured the pocket spot behind favoured Miracle Maven (Jordan Ross) to a quarter in :28.1 before the pace slowed to the half in :58.4. Swan Jewel (Trace Tetrick) surged first-over to take command on the outside of Miracle Maven at three-quarters in 1:29.1. Martz Seven swung wide of the battling fillies in the lane before rocketing home in :26.3 to surge past Swan Jewel by a quarter of a length on the line in 1:56.1.
The victory was the first in four starts for Martz Seven who is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. for owners Stephen Stoll and Black And White Stable. The daughter of Swan For All-La Mirada was bred by Martz Creek Farm and Roman Stoll and now boasts career earnings of $52,870.
The fastest of the three divisions came in the third and final as Better Takem and Jordan Ross put on a speed display. Leaving from the rail, Ross powered to the lead through an opening quarter in :27.2 while the previously undefeated Ponda Title (Kyle Wilfong) settled in the pocket. The lead duo trotted well clear to the half in a blistering :55.4 before Ponda Title took her shot from the pocket to challenge the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.4. Better Takem battled back in the lane to rebuff Ponda Fashion before fending off a late bid by Fifty To Win (Ricky Macomber Jr.) by a quarter-length in 1:54.1.
Henry Graber Jr. trains and co-owns the daughter of Dont Letem-Barmaid along with Eleven Star Stable. A winner in two of three on the season, Better Takem was bred by Steven Mast and has now earned $70,814 following the career best effort.
Driver Trace Tetrick swept both sire stakes divisions for the two-year-old colt trotters, winning the $93,750 first aboard Starlitfranknstein (pictured above). Tetrick protected his inside position early in a three-deep mad dash to the quarter pole in :27.1. Starlitfranknstein then got shuffled to fourth as Eugene The Genius (Mike Oosting) cleared fellow leg one winner Twofiftychamp (Kurt Sugg) to the half in :56. The lead pair slipped away to three-quarters in 1:25.4 while Tetrick searched for room buried from fifth. Tetrick fed Starlitfranknstein racetrack up the passing lane and he responded with a :27.2 final quarter to power clear by 4-1/4 on the line in 1:54.2 over the previously unbeaten Eugene The Genius.
Trained by Ron Burke, the victory was the first in two starts for Starlitfranknstein who is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC and Frank Baldachino. The son of Swan For All-A Southern Lily was bred by John Wagler and has now banked $62,800.
The stakes action concluded for the evening with Tetrick steering Tarzan to victory in the $93,750 second division. Tetrick settled in the pocket early while Kody Kickstand (Ricky Macomber Jr.) cut the opening quarter in :29. Tarzan moved to the top on the backstretch to the half in :59 before reaching three-quarters unchallenged in 1:28.1. The challenge never came to Tarzan as he swung clear by 2-3/4 lengths in the lane to score in 1:56.1 over Kody Kickstand.
Tarzan is owned by Ervin Miller Stables Inc and Anthony Lombardi and is a winner in two of three for conditioner Erv Miller. Bred by Keith Plank, the gelded son of You Know You Do-Foxy Swan has earned $85,403 in his freshman campaign.
The victories were two of three on the night for Tetrick, Mike Oosting led all drivers with four-winners on the card.
The week of racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday (July 31), with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. Two-year-old pacers will step into the spotlight with two divisions each of the second leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for the colts and fillies lead the card. The Jackpot Pick-6 (races 8-13) continues to reach new heights with a carryover of $43,145.36 on Thursday to go along with a $10,000 guarantee on the Hoosier High-5 in race 14.
(With files from Harrah's Hoosier Park)