A trio of Indiana Sires Stakes divisions for pacing colts and geldings was the featured attraction at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, Aug. 18 -- two $67,500 divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts and one $96,000 division for the three-year-old competitors. It was a good night for sire Tellitlikeitis as his progeny swept all three divisions.
The 2023 Fox Stakes winner Tellmeitmatters continued his winning ways and captured the first division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings after converting a pocket trip into a 1:52.1 score. Sent off as the bettors’ second choice, Tellmeitmatters, with driver John DeLong in the bike, used a :25.4 closing kick to track down the pacesetting Play Action Pass and Trace Tetrick late in the lane and hold off M Ms Bud and Jay Cross on the far outside to get the victory. Tellmeitmatters returned $5.80 at the betting windows.
Trained by Roger Welch, the homebred son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters recorded his third win in five lifetime starts. Owned and bred by William P. DeLong and William C. DeLong, Tellmeitmatters pushed his lifetime bankroll to $72,730.
In the second division of the freshman stakes, Martz Telly (pictured above) scored in 1:51.4 with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the bike. Sent off as the heavy betting favourite, Martz Telly moved to the lead down the backside and held off the pocket-sitting Prestigious Prince and LeWayne Miller late in the lane to get the win by a head. Warrior For Truth and Ricky Macomber Jr. rallied well late to get up for third. Martz Telly returned $2.80 for the victory. Martz Telly was the fastest divisional winner for the two-year-olds and established a new lifetime best in the process.
Trained by Ron Burke, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-A And Gs Finest recorded his third straight victory and has now won four of five lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Frank Baldachino and Weaver Bruscemi, Martz Telly now sports a lifetime bankroll of $89,118. The victory was also one of four driving wins on the evening’s 14-race card for Wrenn Jr. Martz Telly was bred by Martz Creek Farm.
The three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were up next and they did not disappoint. It was a three-horse battle to the wire with Coach Stefanos splitting rivals late in the lane to come out on top and get the win by a neck in 1:49.1. Sent off as the public's third choice, Coach Stefanos used a pocket trip to track down the pacesetting Why Not Now and Lewayne Miller in the final steps and was also able to keep Buzzsaw Russ and John DeLong at bay.
Coach Stefanos recorded his fifth win from seven seasonal starts. Owned in partnership by Kenneth Duffy, D And M Trading and John Stefanos, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched sent his career purse earnings over the half-million dollar mark with the victory. Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm.
Live harness racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, Aug. 19 with a 12-race card that will begin at 7 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)