Despite soggy weather conditions and a tough, trailing post, May Baby turned in another dominant performance to capture Tuesday’s first $66,000 division of Indiana Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
With driver, trainer James Yoder in the bike, May Baby avoided traffic issues and came charging late to score the victory in 1:56.1 over a track rated good. With the win, May Baby extended her win streak to four and remains undefeated in stakes action this season.
Leaving from post ten, May Baby settled along the rail in sixth and avoided early confusion behind the gate after a break by Phabaj and Jared Finn in post position one. Robert Taylor sent Givemeonemoretry to the front from post six but the young filly made a costly break just before the first quarter in :28.2. Collettes, with Trace Tetrick in the bike, inherited the lead and she led the field through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.4 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field.
JS Miss Carly and Alex Udell were unable to find a spot along the rail and pressed on to the front first-over and Yoder quickly grabbed the cover with May Baby. As the field turned for home, Yoder tipped May Baby off cover and she went to work.
Using a :28.3 final quarter, May Baby trotted strong to the wire to finish nearly four lengths in front of Deswanslittlelorie and Michael Oosting. Collettes held on for third. As the heavy 1-2 favourite, May Baby returned $3.00 at the betting windows.
“The trip didn’t go at all like I wanted but she was able to overcome all of it,” Yoder noted after the race. “We trained her all winter off a helmet so she is used to it. She’s pretty much all business when the race gets going.”
With the win, May Baby pushed her lifetime bankroll to $83,250 and has now won all four of her lifetime outings while remaining undefeated in Indiana Sires Stakes action this season. The daughter of Guccio-Free Wheeling is owned by Cheyenne Yoder and was bred by Oakwood Farms.
In the second division of the stakes action, Rock Swan turned in a dominant performance of her own to find the winner’s circle in 1:57. With Trace Tetrick in the bike, Rock Swan made her game winning move down the backside and never looked back.
Leaving from post three, Rock Swan left just enough to protect her position and found a spot along the rail in second. RJZ First Lady and John DeLong were the first to get a call through the opening quarter in :28 but yielded the lead to La Nancio and Jared Finn down the backside.
Just before the half in :58.1, Tetrick gave Rock Swan the green light and the filly quickly ranged up to take command. Rock Swan led the field to the third quarter in 1:27.1 before she began to distance herself from the rest of the field.
Using a :29.2 final quarter, Rock Swan trotted evenly to the wire and finished nearly five lengths in front of I’d Rather Be Red and Brandon Bates. RJZ First Lady held on for third place honours. As the 3-5 betting favourite, Rock Swan returned $3.40 at the betting windows.
“I pushed her out of the gate to get a good spot,” Tetrick noted in the winner’s circle. “She’s a very handy filly who has a good mindset and really likes her job.”
Trained by Erv Miller, Rock Swan has now won four of five lifetime outings. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing and Anthony Lombardi, the daughter of Swan For All-Jessica has now amassed $79,481 in lifetime purse earnings.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday, August 21 with two $64,000 divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The evening’s 12-race card will also feature a $20,000 Guaranteed Trifecta in Race 10 and a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in Race 12.
(Hoosier Park)