After seven career starts, Jesse V made his first trip to the winner’s circle in style as he captured the featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, August 31.
With Ricky Macomber Jr. at the lines, Jesse V held off all challengers to win by a head and establish a new lifetime mark of 1:57.4 in the process.
Starting from post seven in the field of ten, Macomber Jr. sent Jesse V away from the gate to the front but he would have to work for position as Time To Travel and Jason Dillander also left alertly for early position. Jesse V ranged up to take the lead just past the first station in :28 while Nutravictory benefitted from a pocket trip with Mr Powers and Doug Rideout content to follow along in third.
Jesse V set the tempo of :58.3 and 1:28.4 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. As the field turned for home, My Uncle Cuz and Don Harmon were the first to apply pressure to the outside while Jesse Stone and Trace Tetrick were well placed second over.
Macomber Jr. asked his mount for more and Jesse V responded gamely with a :29 final quarter to hold off all challenges and find the wire first. Time To Travel rallied nicely for second while Ultimate Encore and Rick Farrington finished third. Sent off at odds of 7-2, Jesse V returned $11.00 to his backers at the betting windows.
Trained by Mark P’Pool, the son of Jailhouse Jesse-Louisas Victory scored the first win of his young career from eight starts. Owned by F. Baldachino, E. Smith, M. P’Pool, and Northern Lane Farm, Jesse V has now bankrolled $72,600 for his connections.
The stakes action for the evening kicked off with a 28-1 upset by Ideal Jesse and James Yoder in the $25,000 Indiana Sires Stakes consolation for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Scoring in 1:58.4, Ideal Jesse got up in the final strides of the mile to notch his second career victory and a new lifetime mark. Owned by James and Jesse Yoder, the son of Jailhouse Jesse-Ideal Secret is trained by Verlin Yoder.
Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, September 1 with a $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final and $25,000 consolation for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12.
(with files from Hoosier)