Lets Go Endofaera would have to work for it, but the star filly extended her win streak to five by winning her $20,270 Carl Becker Memorial elimination for Indiana Sired sophomore pacing fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Thursday night (Sept. 12). Meanwhile, Teelatini made her first start for leading trainer Tyler George a winning one, scoring convincingly in the second elim.
Lets Go Endofaera and driver John De Long were sent away as the heavy 1-9 favourite from post four in the field of five who went postward with their spots in the $75,000 USD final already solidified. Lyin Eyes (driven by Joey Putnam) crossed over from the far outside to grab command with Lets Go Endofaera in the pocket through an opening quarter of :27. The pace slowed to the half in :56 before Lyin Eyes opened up by three lengths on the bettors' choice at three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Turning for home, Lets Go Endofaera had her work cut out for her to keep her streak alive with Lyin Eyes maintaining a two length advantage midway through the lane. Lets Go Endofaera closed to the Putnam helmet before De Long tipped her out to engage Lyin Eyes. The fillies slugged it out in deep stretch before Lets Go Endofaera surged in front with a :25.4 last quarter to find the wire first by a half-length over Lyin Eyes in 1:49.4. Jada Caroline (Marvin Luna) finished third.
Not only did the Tabby De Long trainee keep her win streak alive, but all five of those victories have come in sub-1:50 clockings. Jesse De Long bred and co-owns the daughter of JK Endofanera-Lets Go Higher along with John and William C De Long. A winner in seven of eight this season, Lets Go Endofaera has banked $313,904 on the season and $598,804 for her career.
Teelatini provided yet another De Long homebred victory on the card when she teamed up with driver Trace Tetrick to take the second elimination. Teelatini got away third as the 4-5 favourite in the field of six early while Suprize Me Went (Luna) cut the first quarter in a tepid :28. Flirtin Fanera (Ricky Macomber Jr.) popped the pocket and held the lead briefly before Tetrick hustled Teelatini to the lead at the half in :56.2. Teelatini went unchallenged on the final turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:24.2.
Teelatini kicked-away spinning for home, opening up by three lengths at the eighth pole with Flirtin Fanera and Galleys Image (Brandon Bates) battling for the place spot. Under mild Tetrick urging, Teelatini crossed the wire two lengths clear to stop the clock in 1:51.1 over Galleys Image and Flirtin Fanera.
The daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap was bred and owned by William C and William P De Long. The victory was the third on the season in 11 outings for Teelatini who is the only filly to hand a defeat to Lets Go Endofaera this season, doing so in leg three of Indiana Sire Stakes on June 29. The time of 1:51.1 matched Teelatini’s career best, and she has now banked $388,798 for her career.
The final for the Carl Becker Memorial will be held on Friday, Sept. 20 as part of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s Caesars Trotting Classic card. First post for the signature night of racing will be 6:00 p.m. and feature nine stakes races with over $1.2 million USD in purses on the line. The Caesars Trotting Classic card will air on Fox Sports 1 from 8-11 p.m.
The Caesars Trotting Classic will be the second of two-consecutive Friday nights with major stakes events. The 14-race card on Friday, Sept. 13 is headlined by the $390,000 USD Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old trotting colts and $305,000 USD Jim Doherty Memorial for two-year-old trotting fillies. Automatic bids to the Breeders Crown are on the line for winners of these events should they already eligible to the $700,000 USD championships in October at The Meadowlands.
The grand circuit events for rookie trotters are far from the only major races Friday night with $1.275 million USD in purse money will be distributed on the night. Nine divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes slated along with the $75,000 USD Hoosier Cup which sees sensational sophomore pacer Sabonis go for his 11th straight victory on the year. First post on Sept. 13 is 6:15 p.m. Free online programs are available at the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website.
(Hoosier Park)