Several of Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers will be on display Saturday evening at Hoosier Park for Hoosier Champions Night, the fifth and final round of the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Finals.
The Hoosier state will showcase its best two and three-year-old competitors and by the time the dust settles, eight new Indiana Sires Stakes champions will be crowned; two of whom already achieved their laurels this past Thursday.
The three-year-old pacing colt superstar Freaky Feet Pete handily won his $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final in 1:49.4 and the three-year-old pacing filly White Metro was also victorious in the $75,000 three-year-old pacing filly final on Thursday. With the other six divisional finals now established, the 14-race card on Saturday will be a star-studded program with the top contenders from each division set to battle it out. The first race will line up behind the starting gate at 5:15 p.m.
The freshman filly trotters will kick off the stakes action for the evening with a talented group of ten in the $75,000 final. A Robert Taylor-trained duo will headline the list of entrants with Lockwood Grace enlisted as the 5-2 morning line choice from the rail for driver Jason Dillander and Miss Tootsie Hall with driver Trace Tetrick the second choice from post five.
In the three-year-old trotting filly division, sophomore standout Churita will look to keep her undefeated streak alive in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final from the coveted rail position for driver Trace Tetrick. The daughter of Airzoom Lindy-Stonebridge Volare has dominated the three-year-old trotting filly ranks in the state of Indiana as she has been flawless in nine starts this season for trainer Matt Rheinheimer. Most recently, Churita was victorious her elimination by six and a half lengths, scoring in 1:55.4.
Bridge To Jesses will also put a winning streak on the line in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old trotting colts with driver John DeLong in the bike from the rail. Trained by Roger Welch, Bridge To Jesse’s has won his last eight outings and recently re-established the track record at Hoosier Park for two-year-old trotting colts with a 1:56 score in earlier stakes action.
Seventimesavirgin will look to sweep the final round of the stakes action with a score in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old pacing fillies. Owned by Jesse DeLong, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Mrs Grant Seven has found the winner’s circle in five of ten lifetime outings while banking $64,440. With driver John DeLong in the bike, who also trains the filly, Seventimesavirgin will start from post three at odds of 2-1.
Undefeated in 12 starts, Homicide Hunter looks to remain perfect in 2015 as he starts from post nine in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Trained by Curt Grummel, the gelding has earned just under $220,000 for the season and recently tied the track record at Hoosier Park with a 1:53.4 clocking in previous stakes action. Homicide Hunter, at morning line odds of 9-5, will be driven by John DeLong.
Rounding out the stakes action for the evening will be the two-year-old pacing colt division featuring a talented field of ten set to go postward for $75,000. Matrix Of Luck will play the role of morning line choice and rightfully so; the two-year-old colt has won six of 10 outings this year and most recently notched five consecutive victories against stakes company. Trained by Roger Cullipher, the son of Rockin Image-My Taylors Maid will start from post six with Tyler Smith at the lines.
In addition to all of the exciting races on the track, there will be a multitude of activities for racing fans to enjoy off the track as well. Hoosier Park will offer numerous giveaways and live entertainment in the Yard throughout the evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. At the conclusion of live racing, Hoosier Park will welcome country music artist, David Ball, who will perform a free show in the Terrace Showroom.
The 2015 Indiana Sires Stakes season will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous $75,000 finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on October 10 at Hoosier Park. With purses leaning toward the $2 million mark, the 14-race card slated for October 10 will be one of the richest nights offered in the Indiana Sires Stakes program.
(Hoosier Park)