Shes A Great Lady Stakes champion American Jewel put her undefeated record on the line and claimed her seventh win of the season Saturday evening, September 17 with a track record performance
in the $281,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake at Indiana Downs. Sweet Lou and A Rocknroll Dance won a pair of The Elevation divisions also featured on the card.
Driven by Dave Palone, the American Ideal filly brushed to the lead on the backstretch and cruised to a 1:52.3 score. Podges Lady finished two and one-half lengths back in second, while Miss Lucy O raced fourth but was placed third by judges.
“I know why Jimmy [Takter] loves her now,” Palone said after the race, his first time sitting behind the freshman. “She has a beautiful mouth and she was two fingers off the gate.”
Drawing Post 2 in a field of 11, Palone and the 1-9 favourite got away third early as Podges Lady and Trace Tetrick led the group through a :28 first panel. When the field straightened up on the backside, American Jewel brushed to the lead, flashing past the half in :56.3. Racing to three quarters the two fillies began to separate themselves from the field, lengths ahead rounding the turn (1:25.1) and reaching the top of the stretch. The Jimmy Takter-trained filly closed out the mile with a :27.2 last quarter, setting a new Indiana Downs standard.
“I never put her in gear and she never took a deep breath,” Palone added. “I wanted to get it done as easily as possible.”
Bred and owned by Brittany Farms, American Jewel added another big payday to an already impressive season. The filly has now earned $580,891. The winning time eclipsed the previous track record of 1:53.1, set by Marks Mindy in 2004.
Palone finished the night with two Indiana Downs track records when he guided Sweet Lou to a new mark for two-year-old colt pacers en route to victory in the first $105,900 division of The Elevation.
Starting from the outside post in the field of six, the Yankee Cruiser colt earned his seventh win in eight starts with 1:51.3 clocking. He was followed across the line by Fridaynightflight, while Dick Mctracy rounded out the trifecta.
“I’ve sat behind him since his first baby race,” Palone commented on Sweet Lou. “He’s so intelligent; just a driver’s dream. He’s becoming my favourite horse.”
When the gate folded, Sweet Lou fired to the lead and proceeded to click off fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:25. Turning for home, the Ron Burke-trained colt sped home in :26.3 to finish nearly four lengths in front.
Bred by Birnam Wood Farms, the freshman is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Lawrence Karr and Phillip Collura.
“He was not ever in top gear,” offered the driver. “It’s nice to go to Lexington knowing he hasn’t been fully extended, he’s at the top of his game, and he looks fit.”
The time lowered the previous track record of 1:52.1, set by Suprizemeagain in 2008 and equalled by Next Flight In August 24. The colt has earned just over $283,000 this season for his connections.
Two races after Sweet Lou set the track record, A Rocknroll Dance equalled the mark in the second $106,900 division of The Elevation at Indiana Downs.
Driven by Yannick Gingras, the heavy favourite did not disappoint, winning by three lengths for trainer Jim Mulinix. I Like Dreamin raced second with Star Recruit third.
Coming off a runner-up finish in the Metro, A Rocknroll Dance and Gingras were positioned third through the opening quarter after starting from the rail. Star Recruit and Peter Wrenn reached the quarter in :27.4, but was shuffled to second when Gingras moved the favourite racing the to the half (:56). On the front, A Rocknroll Dance cruised to three quarters (1:24.3) before coming home in :27 well in hand.
“He had a couple of tough trips in Canada so I wanted to sit him a little bit,” explained Gingras. “I was able to sit in until the three-eighths pole. He was relaxed and did it very easy. He had plenty left in the tank.”
Bred by Paul Marino, the colt is owned by the partnership of Mulinix, Denny Miller and Jerry and Theresa Silva. The victory pushed A Rocknroll Dance’s earnings to $328,450.
(With files from Indiana Downs)