Setting a new standard for three-year-old trotting colts & geldings, Katkin American and James Yoder coasted across the wire in 1:52:1 in his respective $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final on Thursday, August 30 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, lowering the record the pair set for his class earlier this year.
The betting public was backing Breeders Crown champion Fiftydallarbill with Trace Tetrick, who had been sent off as the 1-5 favourite and who immediately took a pocket seat behind J S Peyton and Alex Udell, hitting the first quarter in :27. Once the horses hit the half in :55.2, Katkin American came around from the outside and passed his biggest competitor, Fiftydallarbill.
The two continued to battle it out through the third quarter in 1:25, with the rest of the field fighting for show. In the final stretch, Katkin American found a burst of speed and hit the wire in 1:52:1, not only lowering his lifetime mark, but also the track record for three-year-old trotting geldings. Fiftydallarbill fought hard for second, with the rest of the field eleven lengths behind. Got The Groove with John De Long followed for third. Katkin American returned $7.00 to win for his betting backers.
“He tries every time, and that’s probably what sets him apart,” driver James Yoder noted after the victory. “He felt really strong there in the stretch.” The trotter, trained by Verlin Yoder, did not race as a two-year-old and has now won four of his nine lifetime starts. Tonight’s victory brought Katkin American’s lifetime purse earnings to $128,950 for owners Brett Boyd Racing Inc.
Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, September 1 with the $75,000 final for three-year-old pacing fillies in race 12 of the night’s 12-race card. With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 10. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule at Hoosier Park, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.
(Hoosier Park)