Saras Lucky Charm became just that for first time owner Jon Taylor of Muncie, Indiana Friday, July 3, winning her first career start in a leg of the Sandra Lil series at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino
. The two-year-old filly paced her mile in a time of 1:56 for Taylor, who co-owns the Electric Yankee filly with Indy Lane Stables of Topeka and John McGill of Albion, Indiana.
A bulky field of 11 lined up behind Todd Nixon’s starting gate for the second leg of the series. Saras Lucky Charm waited patiently to get into racing mode, giving Scruuppti and Trace Tetrick a free rein at the front for fractions of :27 and :57.2. Saras Lucky Charm was then on the outside and on the move for Dan Shetler, enduring a first-over journey to the three-quarter mile marker in 1:28.1.
The positioning seemed to be only a stepping stone for Saras Lucky Charm as she continued to move forward in the stretch. Kilo Dream and Brandon Bates found a good gear late and began closing in quickly from the extreme outside, but their efforts were too late as Saras Lucky Charm held on for the win by one-half length.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Shetler. “She [Saras Lucky Charm] has a big engine. I drive a number of horses for Wilbur [Eash] and he does a great job. This filly looks like she has a lot of potential. I just wanted to race careful and just take care of her.”
The win for Shetler behind Saras Lucky Charm was one of four on the racing program. The black filly is trained by Wilbur Eash.
“It makes a good impression when you win the first start for a new owner,” said Eash of Taylor’s first win. “She [Saras Lucky Charm] is a nice filly, and she looked good warming up. I just kept my fingers crossed. I was hoping Dan [Shetler] could duck her. I was tickled the way she raced today.”
Saras Lucky Charm, named after breeder Lavon Miller’s wife, heads into the $20,000 Sandra Lil final Saturday, July 11 for Million Dollar Indiana Championships Day, featuring Indiana-sired trotters and pacers vying for a total of $1 million in purses. Post time for the event is 12:45 p.m. and the closing day card will be followed by an outdoor concert by The Beach Boys in The Yard beginning at 8 p.m.
Noble Commander Continues Winning Ways
Noble Commander and 75-year-old Gene Oakerson won their fifth race of the season Friday, July 3, establishing themselves as one of the winningest tandems at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino this season. The four-year-old son of Saving Face increased his career earnings to more than $22,000 and lowered his career mark to 1:55.2.
Strike Till Dawn and Ross Leonard beat Noble Commander and Oakerson out of the gate, posting the first fraction of :28. Noble Commander was sitting on the outside and pursued the top spot, securing the lead before the halfway marker in :57. Around the final turn, Noble Commander was in command, leading the field into the stretch and by the three-quarter mile marker in a time of 1:26.2.
A lead of three lengths on the field in the stretch was all it took for Noble Commander to look solid. However, Prime Time Caviar and Andy Shetler were closing in quickly on the duo. Noble Commander dug in deep and returned to the lead with grit to continue his winning ways and post another victory on his card, winning by two lengths over Prime Time Caviar at the finish line. Rose Run Kurt and Brad Hanners finished third.
Noble Commander is bred, owned, trained, and driven by Oakerson, who is stabled at the Jay County Fairgrounds in Portland, Indiana. Oakerson’s fan club increases with each win as friends and family pour into the winner’s circle at Hoosier Park after his accomplishments.
“My family was really happy tonight in the winner’s circle,” said Oakerson, who was ladled with lipstick remnants on both cheeks. “Everyone was very happy. This race was good for him [Noble Commander] tonight. He fought back and he was challenged and he gave more. He went a full second faster, too.”
Noble Commander continues to make his way up the pari-mutuel ranks. At the conclusion of the harness racing season at Hoosier Park Saturday, July 11, Oakerson will continue to try and add more wins onto his credentials with trips to Indiana Downs for the remainder of 2009.
Call Me Ching Continues To Rake In Cash
Call Me Ching raked in some more cash Friday, July 3, winning the second round of the Fred Terry series at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. The chestnut filly, now undefeated in two starts, was an easy winner by two lengths in a time of 2:01.3 to equal her best time to date.
Starting from Post 6 in the field of 11, Call Me Ching was eased to the back of the pack by driver Dan Shetler as Double A Earlybird and Trace Tetrick rolled out for the lead, posting fractions of :29.1, 1:01 and 1:32. Call Me Ching was on the outside and began to make a move forward by the half, but steadily gained ground in first-over form for the stretch drive home.
When Call Me Ching took over, the race was totally in her command. She trotted home for the win and the largest share of the $10,000 purse for owners Vaun Warner of Robards, Kentucky and Gregory Culley of Evansville, Indiana. John Merkel trains the daughter of Keep It A Secret. Sipn Lucid and Walter Haynes Jr. finished second over Msnaughtybynature and Peter Wrenn for third.
“She [Call Me Ching] is a very nice filly and very talented,” said Shetler, who earned four wins on the racing program. “She has a long way to go before she is a top filly, but she does everything she has been asked. She also has very good manners, which is really important, especially in a trotting filly.”
Call Me Ching heads into the $20,000 Terry Final next Saturday, July 11 as part of the Million Dollar Indiana Championships.
(Hoosier Park)