A duo of $93,750 divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies headlined the Tuesday, Sept. 1 card at Harrah's Hoosier Park card as Fine Wine and Redice reached the winner's circle in their respective splits.
Fine Wine, driven and trained by Jay Cross, won a stretch battle for the second straight start to score an open-length victory in the first division.
On the far outside in post nine, Fine Wine dropped back early as several trotters sprinted for the early lead. In The Buff (Kyle Wilfong) snatched the advantage through the first quarter in :27.4 as Ponda Crystal (Atlee Bender) accelerated along the outside to claim the lead right after. The 10-horse field shuffled around on the backstretch with Prazana (Dan Shetler) and Fine Wine charging. Prazana snagged the lead from Ponda Crystal right at the halfway mark in :57, with Fine Wine left uncovered to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Fine Wine slugged it out with Prazana down the lane and climbed past the leader to reach the wire first by a half-length in 1:55. Prazana held for second at 55-1, while In The Buff claimed third.
The winning Rebuff-Miss Fidget filly was bred by Pleasant Hill Farm and is owned by Michael Yoder, Maynard Miller and Daniel Lehman. Fine Wine secured her second straight win in stakes action, boosting her career earnings to $112,390 and her record to two-for-six. She paid $8.60 to win.
Redice stormed through the stretch to a convincing victory in the second division with Atlee Bender driving for trainer Erv Miller.
Redice floated out from post three with Dance Remix (Jordan Ross) getting away quickly as Brookview Hershey (Kevin Detweiler) fired out to lead at the quarter in :28. Redice pressed on the gas from fourth and cruised to the helm at the half-mile mark in :57.3. Gladden (Trace Tetrick) trotted along the outside in second to pressure the leader to three-quarters in 1:26.3. Redice left her behind, powering down the lane to prevail in a career-best 1:54.3 by four lengths. Gladden stayed in second as Ican Hardly Wait (Kevin Lambright) was fourth-placed-third with Dance Remix (Jordan Ross) placed back for a lapped-on break at the wire.
Redice added her fourth straight win in Sire Stakes competition to her resume and raised her bankroll to $237,020. The Rebuff-Fuzzy Dice filly is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Anthony Lombardi and Stepbystep Racing. Redice was bred by Kjell Andersen, Lucas Wallin and Pieter Delis. The post-time favourite paid $2.40 to win in her fifth win from seven starts.
Wednesday’s 14-race card features three divisions of the Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The betting card has a $1,042 carryover in the Pick 6, a $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 and a $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
(With files from Hoosier Park)