Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action returned to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino with a pair of $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting colts highlighting the 14-race card on Wednesday, July 31. Favourites delivered in both divisions that were contested over a track rated sloppy after heavy rainfall in the area.
Former Indiana Sire Stakes champion Natural Herbie was able to overcome a tough first-over trip to prevail in his division in 1:56.4 with owner/trainer Verlin Yoder at the lines.
Leaving from the coveted rail spot, Natural Herbie left just enough to defend his position. Sand Royal Blu was sent off the gate alertly by driver Tyler Smith and the duo reached the front through the opening panel in :29.4. Serenes Yankee Boy and Ed Hensley benefited from a pocket trip while Sand Royal Blu remained uncontested through a leisurely second split in :59.1. Unable to wait any longer, Natural Herbie was the first to commit to the outer flow and took aim at the leader as the field approached the final turn. Sand Royal Blu continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:28 as the rest of the field closed in. Natural Herbie was able to put a nose in front of the tiring leader and hold off a late charge from Just A Steady Hall and Ricky Macomber Jr. to get the victory. Just a Steady Hall rallied to finish second while Sand Royal Blu held on for the third. Using a :28.4 final panel to prevail, Natural Herbie returned $3.80 at the windows as the public's choice for the victory.
Sired by Here Comes Herbie, Natural Herbie notched his fifth win from eight seasonal outings while bankrolling over $115,000 in 2013. With over $245,000 amassed lifetime, Natural Herbie has won nine of 19 lifetime outings.
In the opening division of the stakes action, Fearless Man used a sharp, gate-to-wire effort to score for trainer Bobby Brower in 1:57. The sophomore son of Elegant Man scored his first stakes victory of the season while equalling his lifetime best mark.
Driver Brad Hanners piloted Fearless Man through fractions of :29 and :59.3 before ever feeling a threat. Hamdalla and Jason Dillander applied pressure to the outside of the leader as they battled for position through the three-quarter clocking in 1:28.2. Fearless Man battled gamely and used a :28.3 final panel to seal the deal. Super Rock and Charlie Conrad found late racing room to get up for the second place finish while Hamdalla rounded out the trifecta. Fearless Man returned $5.40 to his backers for the win.
Fearless Man notched his second win from seven seasonal outings while pushing his lifetime bankroll over the $100,000 mark for his connections of Brower, Debra Garland, and Frank Baldachino.
The Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, August 2 as one division of three-year-old trotting fillies will go postward for $30,000. The three-year-old pacing colts will follow suit and highlight Hoosier Park’s card on Saturday, August 3. The 14-race card slated for Thursday, August 1 will feature five divisions of three-year-old trotting fillies in the opening round of the $10,000 Indiana Silver Sire Stakes.
(Hoosier Park)