Seventimesavirgin turned in a dominant performance to find the winner’s circle in the featured event of the evening, her split of the $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for three-year-old pacing fillies, on Friday, August 26.
Scoring in 1:51.4 over a track rated sloppy, Seventimesavirgin recorded her fifth consecutive win at Hoosier Park and remains undefeated in Indiana Sires Stakes action this season.
Driven and trained by John DeLong, Seventimesavirgin grabbed an early spot along the rail in second while Shady Caroline and Ricky Macomber Jr. were the first to get a call through the opening panel in :28.1. DeLong gave his filly the green light down the backside and she ranged up to take the lead just past the half in :56.4. At the three-quarter clocking in 1:25.1, Seventimesavirgin looked strong on the front as her lead was ever increasing.
As the field turned for home, Seventimesavirgin began to put her talent on display and pace away from the rest of the field. Using a :26.3 final quarter, Seventimesavirgin finished six lengths in front of Dalianna and LeWayne Miller. Shady Caroline and Macomber Jr. rounded out the trifecta. As the heavy betting favourite, Seventimesavirgin returned $2.80 to her backers at the betting windows.
Owned by Jesse DeLong, the homebred daughter of Always A Virgin-Mrs Grant Seven notched her eighth victory of the season from nine starts. Seventimesavirgin has now amassed $239,740 lifetime while winning 13 of 21 lifetime outings.
John DeLong also captured the first elimination for sophomore pacing fillies behind Cant Touch This for trainer Roger Welch.
In a near gate-to-wire effort, Cant Touch This dictated fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.1 before kicking home in :27.4 to win in 1:53. Also sent off as the post time favourite, Cant Touch This returned $5.80 at the betting windows.
Owned by William C. DeLong, William P. DeLong, Douglas Riccolo and Jesse DeLong, the daughter of Rockin Image-Fox Valley Monika recorded her fifth win from 10 seasonal starts. Cant Touch This has now bankrolled $262,005 lifetime while winning 12 of 26 career outings.
With the victories, Seventimesavirgin and Cant Touch This earned their spots in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old pacing fillies slated for Friday, September 2 at Hoosier Park. The Indiana Sires Stakes season will culminate with a $200,000 Super Final for each division at Hoosier Park on October 15.
Live racing will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, August 27 with a 13-race card that will start at an adjusted post time of 4:30 p.m. to prepare for Chicago in concert after live racing. Saturday’s 13-race card will be highlighted by the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
(With files from Hoosier Park)