Anderson, IN — Tellmeitmatters and Sabonis delivered as the favorites and extended their winning streaks in their respective fourth-round divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday (July 5) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

In search of his fourth consecutive victory on the season, Tellmeitmatters was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the $50,500 first division. Leaving from post four in the field of eight, driver John DeLong settled Tellmeitmatters in third off of the wings of the gate as Devon Tharps put Noblesville on the engine to the first quarter in :27.2. DeLong moved Tellmeitmatters from third up the backstretch to assume command before reaching the halfway point in :55.3. On the final turn, Tellmeitmatter brought the field to three-quarters in 1:24 with Noblesville in hot pursuit. At the top of the stretch, Tellmeitmatters spun for home with a 1-1/2-length jump on the pocket-popping Noblesville. The two continued to trade blows in a deep-stretch duel, with Tellmeitmatters emerging atop the skirmish a quarter length clear on the line in 1:50.2 over Noblesville. Shooting In Place and Jordan Ross rallied for the third spot.

Tellmeitmatters scored his fourth straight victory with a 1:50.2 score with driver John DeLong.

A winner in four of five races at 3, the 2-year-old Super Final champion is trained by Roger Welch. The homebred gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters is owned by William C. and William P. DeLong and has now banked $292,550 in his career.

Sabonis survived a tussle of his own to secure victory in the $50,000 second division to extend his win streak on the season to five with regular pilot Joey Putnam aboard. Starting from the rail, Sabonis floated into the fourth spot in the early stages while Rolling Image (Trace Tetrick) worked around Premier Romeo (Kyle Wilfong) to reach the quarter first in :26.3. Rolling Image thundered up the backstretch to the half in :54.2 before Putnam angled the 1-5 favorite off of the pylons to begin his first-over journey. Sabonis moved into third on the outside, two lengths back of the leader, Rolling Image, at three-quarters in 1:22.4.

Sabonis surged to the lead at the top of the lane though finding himself the widest of a three-horse battle at the top of the stretch with Wilfong threading the needle between the two leaders with Premier Romeo. Premier Romeo battled gamely in search of a 43-1 upset before Sabonis edged clear with a :26.2 final quarter to cross the wire a length clear in 1:49.3. Rolling Image held for third.

Sabonis surged to a 1:49.3 victory to extend his win streak to five on the year with driver Joey Putnam. Dean Gillette Photography.

Trained by Aaron Stutzman, Sabonis is now a winner in eight of nine seasonal outings for owner Pat Miller. Bred by Karl Dean Miller, the son of Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue now sports a career bankroll of $127,950.

Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday (July 6) with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. Gamblers will have a $7,784.03 carryover in the Jackpot Pick-6 to look forward to in races 7-12.

For more information on the 2024 live racing season, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.