Anderson, IN — Just when it seemed on upset trend was forming on the evening’s 11-race card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday (Sept. 10), the favorites prevailed in the featured races of the evening, two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies. A total of 15 Indiana sired trotting fillies lined up behind the gate to square off in the fifth round of their six round series.

After suffering the first loss of her young career in the last round of stakes action, May Baby rebounded gamely with an impressive 1:54.4 victory in her $64,500 division. With trainer James Yoder in the bike, May Baby turned in a near gate-to-wire effort to win by open lengths and establish a new lifetime best in the process.

May Baby rebounded gamely to capture her split of the stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Linscott Photography.

Leaving from post six, Yoder sent the 1-5 favorite away from the gate but John DeLong and RJZ First Lady were a step quicker. RJZ First Lady grabbed the lead through the opening panel in :27.1 before yielding the lead to May Baby just before the half in :57.2.

May Baby went uncontested through the three-quarters in 1:27.2 and when the field turned for home, she was on top with an ever-increasing lead. Using a :27.2 closing kick, May Baby coasted on to the wire to finish 5-1/2 lengths in front of Pretzel Party and Trace Tetrick. RJZ First Lady held on for third. As the heavy favorite, May Baby returned $2.60 to her backers at the betting windows.

“We made a few changes after her last start,” Yoder mentioned. “We changed her shoes and it seemed to help her tonight. She was back to her old self. She was strong tonight.”

Owned by Cheyenne Yoder, May Baby recorded her fifth win from six lifetime outings. With the win, the daughter of Guccio-Free Wheeling sent her lifetime purse earnings over the $100,000 mark. May Baby was bred by Oakwood Farms.

In the $64,000 second division of the stakes action, Rock Swan turned in an impressive performance of her own to score in 1:55.4 and deliver as the 1-9 post time favorite. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick in the bike, Rock Swan overcame a first-over trip to record her fourth straight stakes win.

After racing on the front in her last few starts, Tetrick switched up his tactics and opted for a trip off the pace. Leaving from post seven, Rock Swan eased off the gate and settled along the rail in fifth while Collettes and LeWayne Miller did the heavy lifting on the front. Collettes clicked off fractions of :28 and :58.1 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field.

As the field hit the three-quarters in 1:27.3, Tetrick had Rock Swan out and applying pressure to the leader first-over. Turning for home, Rock Swan appeared to find another gear as she quickly tracked down the leader and trotted strong to the wire to finish nearly two lengths in front of her competition. Collettes held on for second while Bluebird Ladyluck and Dan Shetler rallied well for third. As the heavy post-time favorite, Rock Swan returned $2.10 at the betting windows.

“She loves to chase horses down,” Tetrick said after the win. “She can race either way and is getting more versatile every start.”

Trained by Erv Miller, Rock Swan has now won six of seven lifetime starts. With the win, the daughter of Swan For All-Jolly Jessica pushed her lifetime bankroll to $143,731 for owners S&R Racing and Anthony Lombardi.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (Sept. 11) with one $92,000 division for 3-year-old trotting fillies and two $69,000 divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies highlighting the evening’s 13-race card. The Pick-4 went unsolved on Tuesday and with a carryover in excess of $4,000, Wednesday’s live racing action will also feature a $20,000 Pick-4 sequence in races 3-6. The guaranteed Pick-4 will be offered in addition to the regularly scheduled $20,000 guaranteed trifecta in race 10 and a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in race 13. The guaranteed wagers are made possible by Harrah’s Hoosier Park in partnership with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering program and the Indiana Standardbred Association.

With a daily post time of 6:30 pm, live racing will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through Nov. 9. For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.