Trainer Shane Bowermaster upset in both $49,000 divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes fifth preliminary for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Harrah's Hoosier Park.
The first upset came when Fully A Virgin and Michael Oosting surged past the field to cross the wire first and pay $16.00 to win. Stopping the timer in 1:50.2, the sophomore filly established a lifetime mark with the win.
Leaving from post 8 in the field of nine, Fully A Virgin floated from the gate and found a spot along the pylons in eighth. Heavy-favourite Rockin Nola with Joey Putnam and Tellitsassymae with Sam Widger battled for the early lead moving to a :26.3 first quarter, with Tellitsassymae claiming the front with Rockin Nola following closely from the pocket. The field continued in straight formation through the half in :54:4 before Rockin Nola moved first over to attack.
Tellitsassymae and Rockin Nola matched strides past three-quarters in 1:22:3 and when the field turned for home, the race appeared to be wide open. Oosting had Fully A Virgin placed second over and, when he tipped her to the outside, she dug in gamely and surged past her competitors to get the win by two lengths. She was followed by another Shane Bowermaster trainee, Glorious Virgin and Trace Tetirck, who utilized a ground-saving trip for second while This Peach Rocks with Ross Leonard got up for third.
“She’s been easy to handle since day one,” Bowermaster said in the winner’s circle. “She’s really easy on herself. It helps that she’s filled out since last year—she’s built like a tank. We took a headpole off tonight which seemed to help, that and having them out in the field last week—it really freshened her up.”
Fully A Virgin, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Full Of Gold, has now won seven of 23 lifetime starts and brought her lifetime bankroll to $168,555. Fully A Virgin is owned by the Emerald Highlands Farms, who also bred her.
Bowermaster’s second win of the night came when Pansys Image and Sam Widger utilized a pocket trip to pull the 8-1 upset in the second division of stakes action. Following the trend from her stablemate earlier in the night, Pansys Image also established a lifetime mark, stopping the clock in 1:51.2.
When the wings of the gate opened the post-time favourite Play For Pay with Brandon Bates grabbed the early lead, but Widger also had Pansys Image forwardly placed from post 7. At the first quarter in :26.1, Pansys Image reached the front but relinquished the lead to Play For Pay just before the half in :55.
At three-quarters in 1:23:4, Queen Lagertha with John De Long moved first over into second and began to engage Play For Pay for the lead. With the wire in sight, the top three matched strides, but Pansys Image found late racing room up the inside and utilized a :27.1 final panel to get the win, crossing the wire three lengths in front. Play For Pay held on for second and Queen Lagertha fought for third. Pansys Image paid $19.20 to win.
“She’s really easy on herself too,” Bowermaster revealed after the win. “I didn’t really tell Sam what to do, but I knew if she was covered up she’d still be right there. I think fresher is better with these fillies, so we’re planning on giving them a week off between stakes legs and make sure they are ready to go for these last few legs of the sires stakes.”
Pansys Image is also owned and was bred by the Emerald Highlands Farms and has won five of 20 lifetime starts. She now sports a lifetime bankroll of $119,680, surpassing the $100,000 mark with tonight’s victory.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Tuesday, Aug. 21 with an 11-race card featuring two divisions for the two-year-old trotting fillies. Tuesday’s card will also feature a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High 5 in Race 11.
(with files from Harrah's Hoosier Park)