Anderson, IN — Some of the sport’s brightest stars descended upon Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Nov. 2) and as predicted, the stakes filled card delivered some outstanding harness racing battles. It was the final night of Grand Circuit racing action for the 2018 season.

After finishing second in the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot last week, Met’s Hall was out for redemption and delivered on his promise in the $256,000 Carl Erksine Trot for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Met’s Hall captured the $256,000 Carl Erskine Trot and sent his seasonal earnings over the million dollar mark with the win. Dean Gillette photo.

Overcoming a poor position, Met’s Hall turned in a dominant performance to deliver as the even money favorite in 1:53.2 with Andy Miller in the bike. With the win, Met’s Hall sent his seasonal earnings over the $1 million mark.

Miller sent Met’s Hall away from the gate firing from post nine but he would have to work for position as Yannick Gingras also sent You Know You Do away from the gate aggressively. Met’s Hall grabbed command just before the quarter in :27.2 and looked relaxed on the front while clicking off fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.1. Maxus and Peter Wrenn were the first to apply pressure first-over but would have their work cut out for them as Met’s Hall looked strong on the front.

As the field turned for home, Miller asked his mount for more and Met’s Hall dug in gamely to hold off Helpisontheway and Tim Tetrick to get the win by nearly two lengths. Hockey Hanover and Matt Kakaley found late racing room to round out the trifecta. Met’s Hall returned $4.00 at the betting windows.

“He can leave the gate as quick as any,” Miller noted after the victory. “I wasn’t sure if we would get to the front but when he did, I figured he would be good. He’s just an amazing animal who loves his work; he works through his issues and shows up every week.”

Trained by Julie Miller, the 3-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Met’s Inn recorded his fifth win of the season from 14 starts. Owned by Stroy Inc. and the Andy Miller Stable, Met’s Hall has now won 10 of 24 starts while amassing $1,278,494 in lifetime purse earnings.

The stakes action kicked-off for the evening with the $137,000 Crossroads of America Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies and it was Custom Cantab and Peter Wrenn who went gate-to-wire to score in 1:54.1. Custom Cantab left alertly from post five and held strong to the wire to hold off a hard-charging Seviyorum and Andy Miller. Looking For Zelda and Matt Kakaley utilized a ground saving trip to get up for third place honors. As the heavy betting favorite, Custom Cantab returned $4.20 to her backers at the betting windows.

“She’s a tough filly,” trainer Chris Beaver noted in the winner’s circle. “Even when she’s not 100 percent she gives it her best. She’s staked to the Matron Stakes so as long as she comes out of this race okay we will try her there.”

Indiana’s champion 3-year-old trotting filly recorded her 12th win and has finished no worse than third in 16 starts this season. Owned by Christopher Beaver, Donald Robinson, and R B H Ventures, the daughter of Mr Cantab-Custom Model has now won 14 of 28 lifetime starts and sports a lifetime bankroll of $643,936.

Not to be outdone, Youaremycandygirl turned in an impressive performance of her own to dominate her rivals with a 9-3/4 length romp in the $113,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial for 3-year-old pacing fillies. With regular pilot Yannick Gingras in the bike, Youaremycandygirl seized the early lead and steadily drew away from the field to stop the timer in 1:50.1.

Leaving from post six, Youaremycandygirl reached the front through the opening panel in :27.1 and never looked back. After recording middle fractions of :56 and 1:23.2, Youaremycandygirl began to pace away from the rest of the field and still had a :26.1 closing kick left in the tank. Solitary and Brett Miller were the best of the rest finishing second while Double A Mint and David Miller finished third. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Youaremycandygirl returned $3.40 at the betting windows.

“She’s just super-fast,” trainer Ron Burke noted of his filly. “She’s from Sweet Lou‘s family — it’s become the best maternal speed family in the country. A couple things haven’t gone right this year so it’s made for a longer year for her but she’s a top filly.”

With the win, Youaremycandygirl recorded her eighth win from 16 seasonal outings. The millionaire daughter of American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane pushed her lifetime bankroll to $1,365,973 for owner W.J. Donovan.

The stakes action concluded with the $190,000 Monument Circle Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings and after a disqualification of the first-place finisher Lather Up and Montrell Teague, it was Always A Prince and Trace Tetrick who came out victorious. The time of the mile was 1:49.1.

Lather Up used his early gate speed to grab the early lead through the opening panel in :27.1 before yielding the lead to Dorsoduro Hanover and Matt Kakaley just before the half in :55. Tetrick gave Always A Prince the green light just past the half and he ranged up to engage the leader through the three-quarters in 1:22.

While the top pair were battling it out on the front, Lather Up went off stride and although he came back pacing, was ultimately placed eighth for causing interference to trailing horses. Always A Prince was placed first with Dorsoduro Hanover placed second. Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Always A Prince returned $7.20 for the victory.

“He’s just a great horse,” trainer Tyler George said in the winner’s circle. “He was a little tired after his last start so we gave him the week off to prepare him for this race. He doesn’t get excited, he doesn’t do anything wrong — he’s just a great horse to be around.”

Indiana’s champion 3-year-old pacing colt recorded his seventh consecutive victory and 19th win from 22 lifetime starts. Owned by Carl and Melanie Atley, Always A Prince was unraced as a 2-year-old but has amassed $492,875 in lifetime purse earnings.

Foiled Again made his final appearance in Indiana at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday. Dean Gillette photo.

The action-packed evening was complimented by a special appearance from harness racing’s richest horse, Foiled Again, who finished a very game second in the $15,000 Dick Macomber Memorial with Ricky Macomber Jr. in the bike.

“He’s come to enjoy this,” trainer Ron Burke noted of the fanfare that surrounds his superstar pacer. “A year ago, I don’t know if he would have liked it but he seems to understand what’s going on and he really enjoys the attention and seeing all the people.”

Just an hour after pacing his mile in 1:51.4, Foiled Again visited the front paddock at Hoosier Park to meet many of his adoring fans. Foiled Again’s appearance was one of the many stops of his 2018 Farewell Tour.

Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will continue on Saturday (Nov. 3) with a 10-race card. With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through Nov. 10. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.