The bettors proved to be dialled in on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as short-priced sons of Swan For All swept the three $63,699 divisions of the third leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts.
After making his first five starts in Bluegrass State, San Patricio made his first trek to Hoosier Park, where he was sent off as the 6-5 favourite with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the bike. San Patricio got away in good order, landing in the pocket on the first turn as Swan Affect (LeWayne Miller) trotted to the top through an opening quarter of :27.3. The tempo slowed to the half in :57.2 when Sunday Swagger (Kyle Wilfong) charged first-over from third to engage Swan Affect on the final turn before jumping it off just before three-quarters in 1:26.2. That opened the door for San Patricio to vacate the pocket, and he trotted home in :27.2 to surge past Swan Affect and reach the wire 4-1/2 lengths clear in a career-best 1:54. Swan Affect was second. Bluebird Atomic finished third at 117-1, with 77-1 shot Winnin Dallars (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rounding out the superfecta.
Trained by John Butenschoen, who secured his 2,000th career training victory on Monday at The Red Mile, San Patricio has now won four of six starts. The gelded son of Swan For All-Kaikoura, owned by Tony and Michael Holmes, June Zent, and Timothy Thornton, has banked $112,448 on the year.
The second division went to another dual-eligible Kentucky invader as Kountry Tab was aggressively handled by Atlee Bender to score as the 7-5 second choice. Leaving from the rail, Bender settled Kountry Tab in the pocket early as 41-1 shot Bravo Alpha (Doug Rideout) took the field of nine to the quarter in :27.4. Kountry Tab wheeled to the top at the half in :58.1 before trotting 2-1/2 lengths clear to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2. Racing home in :28.4, Kountry Tab fended off a late bid from the upset-minded Bravo Alpha, who came up three parts of a length short with Kountry Tab stopping the timer in 1:57.1. The Gambler (Jordan Ross) finished third at 24-1, with Helpfund (Tetrick) fourth at another big price of 65-1.
The royally bred son of Swan For All out of the millionaire mare Custom Cantab is trained by Erv Miller for owners Anthony Lombardi, Doug Overhiser, and Never 2 Late Stable. The victory was the second in six tries for Kountry Tab and a new career best for the earner of $100,965.
The stakes action concluded with Swan Bi Bi living up to the hype as the 1-20 favourite with regular pilot Jordan Ross in the sulky. Starting from post six, Ross sent Swan Bi Bi to the top in an opening quarter of :28.3. His eight opponents then allowed the big chalk to go unchallenged through fractions of :59 and 1:29. Pocket-sitter Skyway Awestruck (Mike Peterson) remained within striking distance in the lane but finished 1-1/2 lengths back of Swan Bi Bi, who cruised to the wire with a motionless Ross in the bike in 1:56.4. Spring Street (Ricky Macomber Jr.) finished 5-1/4 lengths back in third, with Pilots Lucky Day (Jason Miller) completing the super at 40-1.
The victorious gelded son of Swan For All-Bange Bi has now won five of six starts to begin his career for trainer Henry Graber Jr., with the last four of those coming in consecutive fashion. Swan Bi Bi has racked up earnings of $99,459 for owners Indiana Stables LLC, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC., and Beentheredonethat Racing.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Aug. 15 with a 13-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Friday card features a pair of Indiana Sire Stakes splits for two-year-old pacing colts in races one and four, and a $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 in Race 14 done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
(Hoosier Park)