Indiana Sires Stakes continued at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with two $69,500 divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighting the 14-race Friday night card.
It was round four of six for the freshman pacers as they compete to earn points for the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals as part of the Hoosier Champions card on Friday, Oct. 14.
The first division of Indiana Sire Stakes served as the evening’s sixth race on the card, when Hetolditlikeitwas returned to his winning ways.
Leaving from post 10, Peter Wrenn and Hetolditlikeitwas got away mid-pack in sixth as Art It Is and Brandon Bates emerged on top from an early speed duel through an opening quarter of :26. Art It Is got a mild breather to the half in :54.4 before Trace Tetrick sent along heavily favoured J B Gram first-over to engage the leader.
J B Gram cleared to a two-length lead on the turn and lead at three-quarters in 1:23.2 as Wrenn moved Hetolditlikeitwas to the outside third-over with six lengths to make up on the leader.
In the stretch, Hetolditlikewas unleashed a ferocious :26.4 rally to nip J B Gram at the line by a half-length in 1:51.2 at odds of 5-1. David Allen Whoa and Joey Putnam staged a late rally from the backfield for third, with Art It Is holding for fourth to complete a Tellitlikeitis superfecta in the first division.
Hetolditlikeitwas returned $12.20 for his backers at the mutuel windows.
Trained and co-owned by Alvin Miller along with Twila Harts, Hetolditlikeitwas earned his third win in eight lifetime starts and now boasts a bankroll of $86,795. Bred by Indiana’s leading breeder Victory Hill Farm, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis out of the stakes-winning mare Fancy Desire has a new lifetime mark.
Trainer Erv Miller remained hot with one of his three training victories on the night coming with 2022 Fox Stakes champion Coach Stefanos, who turned in a lifetime best effort of his own in the 11th race second division.
Leaving from post position six, driver Trace Tetrick put Coach Stefanos (pictured above) into play in the early stages, landing in the third position as Brandon Bates and Joker Rockwell opened the proceedings with a :27.2 quarter.
Tetrick gave Coach Stefanos his cue up the backstretch, taking command through a half of :55.2 before leading to three-quarters in 1:23, two lengths up on his rivals.
In the lane, Coach Stefanos fended off a surging Joker Rockwell with a gritty :27.2 final quarter to score the victory a half-length in front on the wire in 1:50.2. Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller rallied up the rail at odds of 68-1 to round out the trifecta.
Scoring as the 5-2 second choice, Coach Stefanos returned $7.60 at the betting windows.
With the victory, Coach Stefanos pushed his bankroll to six figures at $128,835 for owners Kenneth Duffy, D And M Trading Ii LLC and John Stefanos. The win was the fifth in seven career starts for the Tellitlikeitis gelding out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Watch N Be Watched. He was also bred by Victory Hill Farms.
Harness racing continues Saturday, Sept. 3 with a special early post time of 4 p.m. due to the Terry Fator concert following live racing. Harrah’s Hoosier Park will also host a special Labor Day card on Monday, Sept. 5 featuring all four divisions of three-year-olds in Indiana Sire Stakes action along with family fun entertainment. First post for the Labor Day card is 6:15 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)