Three new world records were established Saturday evening at Indiana Downs during the Shelbyville facility’s “Dash and Distance Challenge.”
The 14-race program, which featured six races at distances other than one mile, was held in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s “Back To The Track” promotion.
The first of the trio of new records came in the second race on the program, a 3/16-mile trot. The $7,500 event was won by nine-year-old gelding Orlando Hall and driver Brandon Bates, stopping the clock in :18.2. Sent off at 9-1, the son of Conway Hall returned $20.40, $8.40 and $4.40 with the victory. He is leased and trained by Maria Howard. Friday Nite Dinky finished a length and a half back in second with Little Old Ladywho third.
“I like the idea, it was fun. There was a different aspect to it,” Bates said of the sprint. “We were making speed we don’t normally make. He’s gone a quarter in :27 before at Hoosier Park. I was grabbing into him there at the end tonight and he just wanted to keep going.”
Equally speedy was the 1/8-mile pace won by Papa Jack and driver Sam Widger, also adding a new distance record to the books. The duo rocketed to the wire first in the field of nine, tripping the timer in :09.4, followed by favourite Lt Commander and Grudge Match, the fourth-place finisher placed third by judges. Widger felt the Robert Rutledge owned and trained V P Finance gelding was up to the challenge Saturday.
“My horse is just really quick off the gate. At Hoosier Park I told Rob that I think this horse is as fast off the gate as any horse I’ve ever driven,” Widger explained. “When he saw this race on the sheet he asked me about it. I told him to go for it.”
Electric Lad, half of a Tom Luther-trained entry, won the other race on the card contested at a distance less than one mile. With Luther in the bike, Electric Lad captured the 5/8-mile pace in 1:07.3. The Electric Yankee gelding slipped to the rail from Post 8, following Tomslastchance and Trace Tetrick around the turn before pulling the pocket and drawing away by nearly four. Indian Territory, the other half of the entry, finished third for driver Ricky Macomber in the $7,000 event. Electric Lad is owned by William Johnson and Steven Hutkin.
The “Challenge” card offered more than just drag races. The longest race of the evening featured trotters covering 1-5/8 miles, won by Meadow King and Elliott Deaton. Drawing the rail in the field of seven, the tandem raced fifth early before taking control the second time up the backside. The seven-year-old Super Star Ranger gelding extended his margin to four lengths at the wire, clocking a time of 3:13.1 for the distance. Armbro Believe and Peter Wrenn were second, followed by Partridge Hanover, driven by Jason Dillander. The winner is owned and trained by Dennis Brightwell.
“Some horses are going to like it near the lead or at the back no matter how far you go,” Deaton said after setting the third world record on the program. “He’s such a big horse. He felt stronger the further we went. He felt strong the whole way.”
Less than one week after setting a new world record for trotters going a distance of 1 1/8 miles, V Keys Starger returned to win at the same distance over the Indiana Downs oval. Once again driven by Ross Leonard for trainer Jeff Brewer, the Star Challenge mare took control early and went on to win in 2:11.2, following up on her 2:09.1 effort Monday. The 5-2 favourite was followed by Rosemarys Secret (12-1) and Sovereign Ranger (13-1).
“It’s something special. It doesn’t happen every day,” Leonard said of the performance earlier in the week. “She’s a one-way horse. She likes to be on the front and she never gets tired.”
In the 1-1/8 miles pace, Legal Option picked up a 2:08.1 triumph for owner and trainer Grant Wilfong. Driven by Rick Farrington, the Kentucky Spur eight-year-old won by a length and a quarter. Depravedhedonist was the runner-up to the favourite, followed by El Puncho.
The card also featured a trio of $40,000 Indiana Sires Stakes divisions for sophomore colt pacers. Ewell Binkley-trained horses took two of the three splits, with Josh Sutton guiding Royal Art colt Ombre Art to a 1:54 effort in the night’s first race. Marky Mike, sent off as the bettors’ choice, crossed the wire a length and a quarter back as Go Lakers hit the board in third.
Sutton would also sit behind Tooter Scooter gelding Blue Creek Abner, a 1:52.2 winner for Binkley. Favourite Electric Oui raced half a length back in second and Topville Diamond rounded out the trifecta. Blue Creek Abner, just shy of $100,000 in career earnings with the win, is owned by Barry Binkley.
Royal Woods, another son of Royal Art, captured the third split with a 1:52.3 clocking. The Ron Burke entry was driven to a two and one-half length victory by Macomber. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and Frank Baldachino, the gelding has earned $194,027 this season.
Victory Hill Farm’s Allthatgltrsisgold returned to the winner’s circle with a sparkling effort Saturday night in the $21,000 “Back To The Track Invitational” at Indiana Downs. Driven by Dan Shetler for trainer Bobby Brower, the Cams Card Shark colt used a :26.3 last quarter to propel to a half-length victory in 1:50.
(Indiana Downs)