Sophomore pacing fillies were featured in their sixth round of Indiana Sires Stakes action on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
With two $32,500 divisions, the competitive division was put to the test with the divisional points leaders mixed into separate fields. The night’s winners, Mystical Carrie and Grace Rocks, both provided rebound performances after playing second best in their previous stakes attempts.
The stakes action kicked off with divisional points leader Mystical Carrie performing in almost gate-to-wire fashion. The Erv Miller trainee cinched another win in stakes action in 1:51.1.
Western Sierra with Sam Widger followed the gate as it opened, leaving Mystical Carrie with Trace Tetrick sitting in the pocket. The leader remained unchallenged through the opening quarter in :27.2 while Mystical Carrie waited for the right moment to make a move. Not long later, Tetrick gave Mystical Carrie the green light and she quickly took command before the half in :55.1 and continued on the lead through three-quarters in 1:23.4.
As the field reached the stretch, Mystical Carrie began to bolster her lead on the field. With a :27.2 final quarter, she crossed the wire two lengths in front of Western Sierra. Seventimesacharm with John DeLong utilized a ground saving trip to get up for third. Mystical Carrie paid $3.20 to win at the betting windows.
“The wind was strong tonight so I figured I’d have to ask her for a little bit more,” Tetrick said in the winner’s circle. “She’s a great filly—versatile and shows up every day.”
The daughter of Tellitlikeitis-Mystical Victress, Mystical Carrie has now won eight of 19 starts. She now sports a lifetime bankroll of $136,678 for Mystical Marker Farms, who also bred the filly.
In the second division, Grace Rocks utilized similar tactics and went gate-to-wire in 1:49.4. With Joey Putnam at the lines, the filly found the winner’s circle for the ninth time in 18 starts.
As the gate opened, Grace Rocks immediately moved to the front from post four while Genie Rockwell and James Yoder grabbed the pocket seat. Grace Rocks led the field uncontested through fractions of :27, :54.3 and 1:23.
As the fillies turned for home, Grace Rocks was finally challenged as Somebodyslilly with Michael Oosting rallied from fifth. Despite a strong rally from Somebodyslilly, Grace Rocks reached the wire first, two lengths to the good. Somebodyslilly settled for second while Genie Rockwell held on for third. Grace Rocks paid $5.80 to win.
The Britney Dillon trainee has now won three of nine seasonal starts. The daughter of Rockin Image-Cosmic Grace and was bred by Victory Hill Farms. Grace Rocks boasts a lifetime bankroll of $216,310 for owner Howard Taylor.
(Harrah's Hoosier Park)