On Wednesday, August 10, Indiana Downs hosted the second round of Indiana Sires Stakes for sophomore trotting colts, as a pair of $40,000 divisions were on the program. Bluebird Elian, a 1:57.1 winner, and Queens Lonely Earl, victorious with a 1:57.4 performance, each established new lifetime marks in victory.
Bluebird Elian and trainer Dan Shetler took advantage of cover and a :29.4 final quarter to pick up their third seasonal win from seven starts. Racing off the lead early through a :28.3 opening panel, Shetler and the Southwind Elian colt followed Dream Kid (driven by Ricky Macomber, Jr.) in the outer flow. The favourite pushed to the lead through fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.1, but Bluebird Elian was poised to strike on the outside. Turning for home, the colt took a one-length lead in the stretch and pulled away by three and one-half lengths at the wire. C O To Bluegrass rallied for second and Dream Kid finished third.
Owned by the Erv Miller Stable and Leland Mathias, the sophomore raised his career earnings to $308,000 with the win. The time lowered Bluebird Elian’s mark by two-fifths of a second. The colt was bred by Daryl Miller.
Racing second as he turned for home, Earl Of Stormont gelding Queens Lonely Earl and Sam Widger trotted home in :29.1 to collect a one and one-quarter-length victory in the first $40,000 division. The second post-time choice, Genesis Mercury, snared the Place dough. Floating Ivy rounded out the trifecta. Favourite Roydon made an early break and finished ninth.
Bred and owned by W R L Stables, Queens Lonely Earl earned his fourth win in what was his 12th start. Trained by Mervin Schmucker, the three-year-old dropped his previous best by more than a full second.
(With files from Indiana Downs)