by Kim French, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — On an absolutely perfect evening in Anderson, Ind., the teaming crowd packing the apron was anxiously awaiting the return of their beloved equine superstars in the co-featured $170,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and the $220,000 Centaur Trot, but they received not merely one but three powerful performances in the $246,000 Kentucky Stallion Management Stake, the $140,000 Elevation Stake and the $100,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy from Idyllic Beach, Fear The Dragon and JK Will Power.

Idyllic Beach and Yannick Gingras captured the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Idyllic Beach commenced the action in the eighth race, the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake. The 2-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Idyllic was hustled out to the lead by pilot Yannick Gingras immediately after leaving the gate ahead of Always Giggling and established an initial first quarter-mile split of :27.2.

The filly, who is conditioned by Jimmy Takter and possessed by his wife Christina, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc. and Marvin Katz, effortlessly glided around the Hoosier Park oval in quarter-mile times of :56.4 and 1:25.2 and stopped the clock in 1:52.2.

While her rivals attempted to collar her, their efforts were in vain and Glassine Hanover, despite a valiant pursuit, had to settle for second, with Awash, who also made a strong move in the stretch, in third.

“She does everything you want her to do,” said Gingras, who scored four wins on the evening.

With her latest victory, Idyllic Beach’s record improves to 8-6-2-0 and her bank account increased to $449,132. The filly, the overwhelming public selection at post time, paid $2.40 to her supporters, while the exacta was $4.20 and the trifecta $10.20.

Fear The Dragon certainly served notice he is a colt that bears some serious watching, as the 2-year-old son of Dragon Again-Armbro Cinnamon collected his fifth career triumph in the $140,000 Elevation Stake, which was the ninth race on the card.

Fear The Dragon and David Miller found the winner’s circle in the $140,000 Elevation Stakes.

With David Miller in the bike, the Brian Brown pupil and even money favorite was placed on the lead in the beginning of the contest from post six, but was passed after the first quarter-mile, which went in a stiff :25.4, by Every Way Out and Corey Callahan. Miller and Fear The Dragon were content to sit in the pocket seat, as Every Way Out set fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.4 before he was overhauled by Rock N Tony and Trace Tetrick heading into the stretch.

That is when Miller took action and pulled Fear The Dragon to pace for home. Although Ocean Colony and Yannick Gingras made a strong move of their own from third, the duo simply did not have enough punch to overtake the Emerald Highlands Farm owned colt, who hit the wire in 1:50.4. John De Long and Odds On Delray also closed strongly through the lane, but came home third.

“I usually sell my colts,” Emerald Highlands Farm owner Bruce Trogdon said. “But I loved this colt right from the time he was a baby. His dam foaled Cinamony ($501,394) who is an Art Official, and she has a yearling by McArdle, but she is back in foal to Dragon Again, because of this colt. We love this cross with Dragon Again and this colt has just been perfect all along. We also had high hopes for him and we are hoping we will be back in the winner’s circle here at Hoosier Park again with him.”

Fear The Dragon’s resume now stands at 9-5-2-2 and he has amassed $212,016 in purse money. The colt offered $4.20 to win, with the exacta providing $15.20 for those with the correct wager and the trifecta paid $132.60.

Linscott Photography

David Miller reached the winner’s circle with JK Will Power in the $100,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy Pace.

Not to be outdone by the youngsters’ wins prior to his stakes engagement, JK Will Power made a statement of his own in the $100,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy pace. With David Miller holding the lines, the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Whats New Pussycat, trained by Ron Burke, was in fifth place in the first quarter-mile behind leader Don’tcallmefrancis who set the opening fraction of :26.2.

Don’tcallmefrancis led the field through the half-mile in :55.1 until he was overtaken by JK Will Power shortly before the three-quarter pole with the tote board flashing a time of 1:24.

From there, it was all JK Will Power who hit the wire in 1:51.2. Granite made a bid from last to finish second, with Mystical Rock pacing from second to last to be third.

Owned by 3 Brothers Stables, the 3-year-old colt paid $5.20 to win as the 8-5 favorite. He collected his sixth lifetime victory from 24 trips to the post.

“He has not won a lot of races and usually finishes second or third,” said Miller, who captured three races in his trip to Anderson. “But at the top of the stretch I knew I had plenty of horse and he would come home a winner tonight.”

The exacta paid $134.60 and the trifecta $3,710.40 to their respective supporters.