Seventimesavirgin solidified her divisional dominance in the three-year-old pacing filly ranks in the Hoosier state as she turned in another impressive performance to take the featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old pacing fillies, and remain flawless in stakes action Friday at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
With a final time of 1:51, Seventimesavirgin coasted to the wire under a hand drive to finish six lengths to the good and give driver John DeLong, who also trains the sophomore filly, one of his six driving wins on the program.
Leaving from post three, DeLong eased Seventimesavirgin away from the gate to settle along the rail in third while Cant Touch This and Dale Hiteman got the first call through the first quarter in :26.2. Seventimesavirgin made her customary move to the front down the backside and when she reached the front at the half in :55, she never looked back. It wasn’t until the three-quarter station in 1:24 that Seventimesavirgin began to separate herself from the rest of the field.
As the field turned for home, Seventimesavirgin’s lead was ever-increasing as Cant Touch This and the rest of the field struggled to stay within striking distance. Using a :27 final panel, Seventimesavirgin found the wire six lengths in front of Dalianna and Ross Leonard who rallied late in the lane. Endeavors Fantasy and Sam Widger rounded out the trifecta. As the heavy post time favourite, Seventimesavirgin returned $2.10 at the betting windows.
“She’s just awesome,” DeLong said with a smile in the winner’s circle after the victory. “She loves to pace home and loves her job. The ear plugs were still in at the wire tonight and she had plenty left in the tank. She’s something special, not only to drive but for my family. We’re lucky to have her.”
Owned by Jesse DeLong, the homebred daughter of Always A Virgin-Mrs Grant Seven notched her ninth victory of the season from ten starts. Her only loss of the season came earlier in the season in a conditioned event for three-year-old pacing fillies at Hoosier Park where she finished fourth. Seventimesavirgin remains undefeated in Indiana Sires stakes action this season and has now amassed $277,240 lifetime while winning 14 of 22 lifetime outings.
The victory was one of six winners on the program for driver John DeLong who is currently second in the leading driver standings at Hoosier Park behind Trace Tetrick. DeLong also found the winner’s circle with Im So Handsome for Hoosier Park’s fractional ownership group, First Turn Stable. Trained by Jeff Cullipher, Im So Handsome stopped the timer in 1:52.2 to notch his fourth win of the season from 27 outings.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, September 3 with a 14 race card highlighted by the $21,000 Fillies and Mares Invite Pace. With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12.
(Hoosier Park)