Odds On Mr Mamba took his first shot against Indiana Sire Stakes competition on Friday, Aug. 29, making Harrah’s Hoosier Park history in the process as the gelding joined Fulfullnmydestiny and My Girl Ej as the fastest two-year-old in the track’s history with his 1:49.2 scorcher.
The first of two $91,667 Indiana Sire Stakes splits for rookie pacing colts and geldings served as the Friday night lid-lifter, in which Odds On Mr Mamba and driver Pete Wrenn left from post four as the 4-5 favourite in the field of six. Odds On Mr Mamba got away in third as Wrenn sought out the helmet of Aaron Stutzman and Dancingdreamer, who took the pocket spot behind Rock My Memory (Trace Tetrick) through an opening quarter of :26.1. Rock My Memory had things his way though a half of :55 before Dancing Dreamer took a peek from second at three-quarters in 1:23 while Odds On Mr Mamba stalked from third.
Dancingdreamer took aim at Rock My Memory, powering alongside midway through the stretch as Wrenn tipped Odds On Mr Mamba three-wide. In a matter of strides, Odds On Mr Mamba exploded to the lead under mild Wrenn urging, rocketing home in :26 with the ear plugs still in place and crossing the wire six lengths clear in 1:49.2. Dancing Dreamer finished second, with What Nooo Waaay (John De Long) rallying for third, nine lengths behind the winner.
Odds On Mr Mamba has now won all three starts since a fourth-place finish on debut for trainer Melanie Wrenn. The Odds On Racing homebred gelded son of Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman has banked $61,379. He returned $3.60 at the mutuels.
The mark matched the track record for two-year-old pacing geldings established by Fulfullnmydestiny in September 2021. Both geldings are joined by My Girl Ej, who matched that clocking in the 2023 Breeders Crown, as the fastest two-year-olds in Hoosier Park history.
Royal Richie Doyle coasted home an easy winner in the second division to remain undefeated through four career starts. Royal Richie Doyle and driver Trace Tetrick started third from the rail in the field of six while Jk The Great (Marcus Miller) cut the quarter in :26.4. Royal Richie Doyle moved to the lead just beyond the first station, and as he cleared, Jk The Great went off stride, creating interference with the remainder of the pack behind him and giving Royal Richie Doyle a six-length advantage at the half in :56.1. Cosettes Image (Stutzman) recovered from the interference and closed the gap to 2-1/2 lengths behind the 1-5 favourite through three-quarters in 1:24.3.
The lead grew once more in the stretch as Royal Richie Doyle responded to a few Tetrick taps of the whip and paced six lengths clear, crossing the line in 1:52. Cosettes Image held gamely for second at 59-1, with Swiss Lights (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallying to be third.
The winning homebred son of Jk Endofanera-Townes Party Girl is owned by John and Robert Esposito. Leading trainer Tyler George conditions Royal Richie Doyle, who has banked $107,476. The win price was $2.40.
In addition to the two-year-old stakes action, Buzzsaw Russ returned to Hoosier six days removed from a third-place effort in the Kane Memorial at Batavia, and he cut the mile as the even-money favourite to take the $30,556 Open Pace by three lengths in 1:49.4 for driver John De Long and trainer Missy Essig. The five-year-old son of Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser is now two-for-seven this season for owners Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver.
The week of racing will conclude at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 14-race Saturday program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m.
(Hoosier Park)