The leading driver for the last 11 consecutive seasons at Harrah’s Hoosier Park put on yet another dazzling display of driving ability with five wins on Saturday, Aug. 23, including a 54-1 shocker with Water Torpedo, four straight wins in the middle portion of the card, and steering San Patricio to yet another score in one of three $63,889 Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) splits for two-year-old trotting colts.
The bettors tabbed San Patricio as the 3-5 favourite from post three in the highly anticipated match up between him and Swan Bi Bi (Jordan Ross) who had won five of six starts entering the Saturday card. Swan Bi Bi (Jordan Ross) got to the top early while San Patricio settled for the tuck in second as they lined up one-two to the quarter in :28.3 Swan Bi Bi went unchallenged to the half in :58.4 before jumping it off on the last turn, allowing San Patricio to inherit the lead at three-quarters in 1:29.1. In the stretch, Premier Bluebird (John De Long) gave chase, he but could not catch San Patricio, who scored by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57, with Bravo Alpha (Doug Rideout) rallying for third.
Trained by John Butenschoen, San Patricio has put together a record of 7-5-0-1 at two. The gelded son of Swan For All-Kaikoura has banked $144,392 for owners Tony and Michael Holmes, June Zent, and Timothy Thornton. He paid $3.20 to win.
Tetrick’s four other wins on the night came with Water Torpedo ($110, 1:56.2), Call Me Dani ($14, 1:54.3), Adashious Hanover ($5, 1:50.4), and Anna Love N ($4, 1:49.2). The victory with Anna Love N was in the $30,556 Fillies and Mares Open Pace for trainer Tyler George. Tetrick, who recently reached 8,000 career victories, has tallied 289 wins so far this year.
In the first INSS division for rookie trotting colts, Swan Affect crushed as the 4-5 favourite after finishing second to San Patricio in his last start. Driver LeWayne Miller floated him out from third, racing to the outside as One Mike Out (Clint Coy) sprinted to an early lead at the opening station in :27.4. Swan Affect methodically moved to the top on the backstretch, clearing before the half of :57.2 and trotting two lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:27.2. There was never an anxious moment in the lane for those who backed the bettors’ choice, as Swan Affect romped by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4 over August Salazar (John De Long), followed by Mr Halbert (Tetrick).
Swan Affect has now won four of six starts and is yet to be worse than second for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. The gelded son of Swan For All-Flower Hour has earned $121,457 for owners Matthew Miller and John McGill. His win price was $3.80.
In the final division, Yearoffear proved he was ready to step up to the Sire Stakes level with no issues fresh off his score in the $34,247 Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit Final in his last outing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Trainer Doug Rideout was in the bike behind the 9-1 shot, with Yearoffear parked and pressing leader Great Commission (Aaron Stutzman) through a first quarter of :28.2. Yearoffear cleared to the top before the half in :58 as Skyway Awestruck (Mike Peterson) tipped from third to apply pressure at the leader’s wheel through three-quarters in 1:27.4. Yearoffear turned away the challenge of Skyway Awestruck but faced a new threat as 6-5 favourite Kountry Tab (Atlee Bender) ripped off cover from second-over to take aim at the leader. Yearoffear dug in gamely in the stretch, holding Kountry Tab at bay by a length in a career-best 1:56.2 while The Gambler (Ross) rallied for third.
Yearoffear has now won four races in a row and eight of 13 starts for owners Julie Rideout, Alan White, and Gracie Rosson. The Dont Letem-Isabella Carina gelding pushed his career earnings to $66,945 with the win. He returned $20.40 to his backers.
Racing will resume at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Tuesday, Aug. 26 with a 13-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Tuesday program features a pair of $7,500 guaranteed pools in the Late Pick 4 (Races 10-13) and Late High 5 (Race 13) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
(Hoosier Park)