Indiana-sired freshman trotting fillies were the featured attraction at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday, July 5 as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by the first of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals and $25,000 consolation for the two-year-old trotting fillies.
Ajessia broke her maiden in fine fashion as she used a perfectly timed rally to pull the slight upset and best nine other rivals in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old trotting fillies. Trained and driven Doug Rideout, Ajessia scored her first career victory from just two lifetime starts in 1:57.3.
Leaving from post three, Ajessia left just enough for position but a host of others also had the same idea. Trace Tetrick had Foxy Swan out and firing from post five and the duo grabbed the early lead in :27.4. Unable to find a spot along the rail, Ajessia continued her mission to the front and grabbed command just past the half in :57.1 but would yield the lead back to Foxy Swan approaching the final turn.
As the field turned for home, Foxy Swan looked strong on the front but the field was starting to close in at the third station in 1:27.3. LeWayne Miller had Satin Dancer well placed along the rail in third but Ajessia was looming large in the pocket. Rideout tipped his filly to the outer flow and she dug in gamely to track down the leader and finish four lengths to the good. Satin Dancer rallied nicely in the lane to finish second while Foxy Swan held on for third. As the 7-1 choice, Ajessia returned $17.60 to her backers at the betting windows.
“She can be a little tough to handle,” Rideout noted of his filly. “She’s fast, that’s for sure but she is a handful and you just have to be careful with her. She threw her head last week so I let her have her way this week. I’ve always known she was fast, we just have to be careful with her.”
With the win, Ajessia not only scored her first career victory but also scored the first victory for her owners at S&R Racing who are new to harness racing this season. Purchased for $55,000 at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, the daughter of Jailhouse Jesse-Atia has now earned $39,900 lifetime for her connections.
With the win, Ajessia also earned points for the $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals slated for October 15 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The Indiana Sires Stakes program will culminate with the top ten point earners from the previous $75,000 finals in each division returning to compete in the super finals.
J S Jesses Girl and Sam Widger also used a big rally late in the lane to score at odds of 5-1 in the $25,000 Indiana Sires Stakes consolation for two-year-old trotting fillies. Stopping the timer in 2:00.1, the two-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse-Whatsyourpleasurek scored her first career victory from five starts for owner Jack Myers Racing, LLC.
Indiana Sires Stakes action returns to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 6 with the second of five $75,000 finals for the three-year-old trotting fillies and the opening round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for two-year-old trotting colts. With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12.
(Hoosier Park)