Indiana-sired three-year-old trotting fillies were the featured attraction at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 5 as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final and $25,000 consolation for the sophomore trotting fillies.
Donnas Dream and Robert Taylor made a clean sweep of the second round of stakes action as they scored their second consecutive Hoosier Park victory — this time in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final. After scoring handily in her elimination last week, Donnas Dream rallied gamely late in the lane to score in a lifetime-best of 1:55.2 at odds of 14-1.
Donnas Dream was sent away from the gate firing from post seven and she was able to grab the lead through the opening panel in :28. Her lead would be short-lived as Doug Rideout had the even money favourite, Ajessia, pointed to the front.
Ajessia grabbed the lead just before the half in :57.2 while Donnas Dream sat patiently in the pocket. Riverdancing Diva and Andy Shetler were following intently in third with JS Jesses Girl and Sam Widger next in line, fourth.
Ajessia continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:27.1 but was joined on the outside by ER Norah and Don Eash as the field rounded the final turn. Ajessia was able to put away ER Norah, but her biggest threat was still in the pocket.
Taylor tipped Donnas Dream to the outside and she utilized a :28 closing kick to get the victory by nearly two lengths. Ajessia held on gamely for second while Foxy Swan and Trace Tetrick rallied late in the lane to round out the trifecta.
Dismissed at the betting windows, Donnas Dream returned $30 to her backers.
“She’s a very nice filly,” trainer/driver Robert Taylor noted after the victory. “She was really sick earlier on in the season but has slowly been getting better. The last few starts she has really come around and raced back to her old self.”
Donnas Dream recorded her third win from nine seasonal outings and fourth lifetime victory from 23 starts. The three-year-old daughter of Power Play-Donna Do You Wanna has now amassed $92,848 in lifetime purse earnings for her owners Taylor Racing Stable and Kent Schenk.
In the $25,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Consolation for three-year-old trotting fillies, Her Bs Foxy Lady and Jay Cross rallied late in the lane to score in 1:56.2. Trained by Dan Shetler, Her Bs Foxy Lady recorded the fourth win from nine seasonal starts while pushing her lifetime earnings to $30,519.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Thursday, July 6 with a 14-race card featuring the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old trotting colts. First race post time is 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)