Indiana Downs played host to the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for freshman pacing fillies Monday, August 1, with seven $40,000 divisions carded. Favourites managed to win only three of the features, producing several first-time winners
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The Alvin Miller-trained Miss Millie turned in the fastest win of the night, stopping the clock in 1:55.1. Driven by Peter Wrenn, the Dontgetinmyway filly sprinted away from the field with a :28.2 last quarter to win by an impressive eight lengths. Move On B B and Ricky Macomber raced second followed by Diane’s Z Tam, the favourite and leader turning for home.
Winless in two previous starts, Miss Millie broke her maiden with style. The homebred is owned by Ted Comerford and was bred by Comerford and Twila Harts, who also raced the dam, Jate Lobell mare Miss Mica.
Bonos Lassie, a filly sired by Pro Bono Best, registered the second fastest mile of the night with a 1:56 effort in the night’s ninth race. Driven by owner and trainer Ronnie Gillespie, the freshman moved first up from fourth racing into the last turn and paced home in :28.3 to defeat favourite Bluebird Jettart by a length. Roberts Ideal and trainer Roger Cullipher finished third.
Second in her debut at Balmoral Park, Bonos Lassie made her first Indiana Downs start count. Out of Artiscape mare Brads Little Sis, the filly was bred by Leon Mansfield and Ailsa Craig Boys Stable of Ontario.
Pro Bono Best was well-represented in the winner’s circle as favourite Insatiable Desire and Kayne Kauffman took command with a quarter move and drew away by four and one-quarter lengths in the stretch to win in a time of 1:56.2. I Scoot With Heart and Charleysbarleysgirl rounded out the trifecta.
A 19-length winner in a qualifier at Scioto Downs, Insatiable Desire made her pari-mutuel debut a winning one for owners Lester and Brian Clemmons and John and Jodie Daskivich. Lester Clemmons trains the Mark Adams-bred filly.
Favourite Kerosene and Wrenn sat fourth early and took command racing to three-quarters before hitting the wire in 1:56.2. The I Scoot Hanover homebred finished a length ahead of Fsolatdo Bluegrass while Lil Miss Hotshot raced third. The win was the third in four starts for the filly, lowering her mark by more than a full second. Krista Williams bred, owns and trains Kerosene.
Mamjons Bluegrass, another I Scoot Hanover filly, captured her $40,000 division with a 1:56.4 effort, finishing with a :28 last quarter to nose out Loretta at the wire. Tiene’s Leche finished a neck back in third. Sam Widger sat behind the Luel Overstreet bred and owned freshman, guiding the pacer to her first win in two starts for trainer Ronnie Guhy.
Hoosier Amber and Widger also pulled off a narrow victory in the night’s seventh race, holding off Moms Gone Fishing and Joe Putnam by a neck in 1:56.4. Romantic Fever and trainer Doug Rideout were third. The LCB-Search For Shannon lass earned her second win in five starts for Lynn and Barbara Wilfong and Brett and Candice Wilfong. Brett Wilfong trains the filly.
Keystone Endeavor filly Our Lady Fitz claimed the last division of the evening with a 1:57.4 triumph for trainer Alan Riegle. Sent off at 7-1 odds, Dave Magee and the freshman raced fifth through the opening half before moving second over and taking a short lead in the stretch. The filly powered home in :27.3 to edge favorite Free Girl by a length. Handnlcbgetwithit hit the board in third.
Bred by Faron Parr and owned by Kirby Sutton and Shala Urlage, Our Lady Fitz picked up her third consecutive win, knocking four-fifths of a second off her previous best.
(Indiana Downs)