For the second time in one week, the track record was lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval, marking the fourth track record that has been re-established this season.
Stopping the timer in 1:49.2, Au D Lox Bluegrass and driver Sam Widger kicked off the action packed 12-race card on Saturday, July 8 in impressive fashion in the $21,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Pace.
The 1:49.2 clocking re-established the track record for older pacing mares and also established a new lifetime best for Au D Lox Bluegrass. The previous track record of 1:49.3 was established by McFlirty and Ricky Macomber Jr. in 2014.
Widger wasted no time as he sent Au D Lox Bluegrass away from the gate firing from post seven. She dictated fractions of :25.1, :53.3 and 1:22.1 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Wild Wanda and Ricky Macomber Jr. were content to sit the pocket while Trace Tetrick had Graceful Vision aimed at the leader turning for home.
Graceful Vision was able to reach the leader’s wheel, but Au D Lox Bluegrass wasn’t finished. Using a :27.1 final quarter, Au D Lox Bluegrass coasted on to the wire under a hand drive from Widger to finish nearly five lengths in front of Graceful Vision. Ponytail and LeWayne Miller rallied gamely to round out the trifecta.
As the heavy betting favuorite, Au D Lox Bluegrass returned $4 to her backers at the betting windows.
“She’s a very nice mare,” Widger noted after the victory. “She’s really sharp right now and seems to be getting better and stronger with every start.”
The Jeff Cullipher trainee recorded her fifth victory from 12 seasonal starts. Owned by Thomas Pollack and Jeffrey Cullipher, the four-year-old daughter of Panspacificflight-Ag-n-Au Bluegrass has now amassed $61,450 in purse earnings this season and $254,709 lifetime. The victory was also one of four training wins on the evening’s 12-race card for Cullipher and the first of three driving wins on the evening for Sam Widger.
On the stakes side of the racing action, JDs Chancey Gal continued her winning ways to take home top honours in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old pacing fillies. With Todd Warren at the lines, JDs Chancey Gal staged a big rally late in the lane to find the wire first in 1:51.3. She recorded her fifth consecutive Hoosier Park victory and also established a new lifetime mark in the process.
Trained and owned by Pasko Vucinaj, the three-year-old daughter of Panspacificflight-Designer Gal has now won seven of 10 seasonal starts and nine of 24 lifetime starts. With the win, JDs Chancey Gal sent her lifetime bankroll over the $100,000 mark.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Tuesday, July 11 with a 14-race card featuring the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for two-year-old trotting fillies. First race post time is 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)