The Rick Plano barn was firing on all cylinders on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Harrah's Hoosier Park, racking up four wins including the $30,986 Open Handicap Trot with Flagman.
Leaving from the outside post six as the 3-5 favourite, Flagman flexed his muscle early, crossing over quickly along the cones to lead the field to the opening quarter in :27.2. Flagman was well rated by Kevin Lambright in the second stanza, crossing the halfway point in :56.2 with Finite (Trace Tetrick) following from the pocket. Unchallenged on the final turn, Flagman tripped the beam at three-quarters in 1:25.1 while Eugene The Genius (Brandon Bates) led the outer flow in fourth with Yo Beth D (Kyle Wilfong) in tow.
Flagman braced for the challenge of Finite, who tipped to the outside in search of a 6-1 upset at the top of the lane. Flagman countered to the inside, trotting home in :27.3 to fend Finite off by three parts of a length in 1:52.4. Yo Beth D rallied from the backfield to round out the triactor, 1-1/4 lengths back of the winner.
The win was the fourth of the season in 22 outings and career win number 49 from 184 starts for Flagman. The nine-year-old Guccio-Magic Lindy gelding, owned by Maryann Plano, boasts a career bankroll of $1,045,449. He paid $3.20 to win.
Plano's additional training victories came with Dans Credit ($9.80, 1:53.2) driven by Atlee Bender, Famous Father ($2.60, 1:53.2) with Trace Tetrick and Toys For You ($3.60, 1:53.3), whom the trainer piloted himself. Plano upped his 2026 tally to 35 after his four-for-five evening on the 13-race card.
Lyin Eyes and driver Joey Putnam wired the field to score in the $30,986 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Lyin Eyes, the 8-5 bettors' choice from the outside post six, cleared Angel Hill (Trace Tetrick) to assume control through a :26 opening panel. Putnam then pulled back Lyin Eyes to middle-half fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1.
Angel Hill took aim from the pocket turning for home, looking the pacesetter in the eye as the two hooked up midway through the stretch. Digging in along the cones, Lyin Eyes punched back and delivered the knockout blow to score by a half-length in 1:49.4 over Angel Hill. Aintnothingucando (Kyle Wilfong) rallied home in :25.2 to get up for the show spot.
A winner in two of her last three starts, Lyin Eyes has three victories in 16 outings on the year for trainer Joe Putnam. The five-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus-Miswave Hanover is owned by J P Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. She owns $697,511 in career earnings following her 12th career victory from 65 starts. The win price was $5.20.
Live racing resumes at Hoosier Park on Wednesday with a 14-race program featuring $10,000 guarantees in the Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and Late High 5 (Race 14) in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.
The Wednesday card kicks off Caesars Trotting Classic week at Hoosier Park, with the track's signature trotting event taking place on Friday, Sept. 25 in addition to seven additional Grand Circuit events. First post each night is 5:30 p.m.
(Hoosier Park)