Anderson, IN – The 2019 Indiana Sires Stakes program will culminate at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (Oct 11) with the annual Hoosier Champions Night. The star-studded 14-race card will showcase the best trotters and pacers in the state of Indiana and provide an exciting conclusion to the 2019 Indiana stakes season.

With purses in excess of $2.4 million, the Indiana Sires Stakes Super night will be the richest night ever offered in the history of the Indiana Sires Stakes program featuring eight $270,000 finals. Taking on a new format for the 2019 season, the revamped Indiana Sires Stakes program featured six preliminary rounds for the two-year-old competitors and eight preliminary rounds for the three-year-olds. The two and three-year-olds competing in the Super finals have accumulated points throughout the season, based on performance in the preliminary legs, and the top point earners have earned the right to seek glory in the $270,000 finals. Horses finishing sixth through tenth in each of the finals will receive $4,000. Complementing the program will be four divisions for the aged competitors of both sexes and gaits.

Fully A Virgin is one of four entered tonight for trainer Shane Bowermaster. Dean Gillette photo. 

In the 26th season of live harness racing, Harrah’s Hoosier Park is in the midst of one of its fastest seasons to date. Lather Up recently equaled the overall track record in the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes on August 9. Of the eight respective Indiana Sires Stakes divisions, four divisions have produced track record breaking miles this season.

The $270,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals will start in the fifth race on the program with a field of ten three-year-old pacing fillies. Divisional leader Fully A Virgin is one of four entrants for trainer Shane Bowermaster and has been enlisted as the 3-1 morning line choice. With regular pilot Mike Oosting in the bike, Fully A Virgin has won her last two starts in stakes company and won seven of 15 outs this season.

The $270,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for two-year-old trotting fillies will feature an exciting match-up between rookie, divisional leader, Rock Swan and current track record holder, May Baby. May Baby will play the role of morning line favorite and will start from post three with driver, trainer James Yoder in the bike. Rock Swan has drawn a tough, outside post nine and will be guided by Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s leading driver Trace Tetrick for trainer Erv Miller.

Driver Yannick Gingras will venture back to Hoosier Park to steer the 7-5 morning line choice, Swandre The Giant, from post three in the $270,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Trained by Ron Burke, Swandre The Giant has won four of five starts at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this season and is currently riding a two-race win streak. Swandre The Giant and Yannick Gingras finished second in the two-year-old trotting colt Super Final in 2018 to It’s A Herbie and Verlin Yoder who have drawn post ten for their assignment.

Two-year-old pacing colt sensations Odds On Osiris and Clever Character will square off for the first time this season in the $270,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. While Clever Character leads the division in points, Odds On Osiris recently re-established the track record for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings with a 1:50.3 score over a sloppy track earlier this season. Odds On Osiris has been given the slight edge on the morning line at 2-1 and will be driven by Peter Wrenn from post three for trainer Melanie Wrenn. Clever Character will put an impressive win streak of his own on the line from post ten with Dale Hiteman in the bike for trainer Timothy Smith.

Odds On Osiris is the morning line favorite for Peter Wrenn in the ISS Final tonight. Dean Gillette photo. 

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. Harrah’s Hoosier Park and the Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA) have once again partnered to offer numerous giveaways and live entertainment throughout the evening. The first 500 guests to visit Trackside Caesars Rewards will receive a free hat beginning at 6 pm. In addition, Harrah’s Hoosier Park will offer a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in the last race of the program.

The first race will line-up behind the gate at 6:30 p.m. Friday’s stakes filled card is part of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s 2019 Championship Meet, which features a $4 million stakes schedule. To view all of the entries for Friday’s 14-race card, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.