Anderson, IN – The bettors proved to be dialed in on Thursday (Aug. 14) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as short-priced sons of Swan For All swept all three $46,500 divisions of the third leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters with Swan Patricio, Kountry Tab and Swan Bi Bi.
After making his previous four starts in Kentucky, Swan Patricio made his first trek to Hoosier Park, where he was sent off as the 6-5 favorite with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the bike. Swan Patricio got away in good order, landing in the pocket on the first turn as Swan Affect (LeWayne Miller) trotted to the top through an opening quarter of :27.3. The tempo slowed to the half in :57.2 when Sunday Swagger (Kyle Wilfong) charged first-over from third to engage Swan Affect on the final turn before jumping it off just before three-quarters in 1:26.2.
That opened the door for Swan Patricio to vacate the pocket, trotting home in :27.2 to surge past Swan Affect and reach the wire 4-1/2 lengths clear as he romped in a career-best 1:54. Bluebird Atomic (Kevin Lambright) finished third at odds of 117-1, with 77-1 shot Winnin Dallars (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rounding out the superfecta.
Trained by John Butenschoen, who secured his 2,000th career training victory on Monday at The Red Mile, San Patricio has now won four of six on the season. Owned by Tony and Michael Holmes, June Zent and Timothy Thornton, the gelded son of Swan For All-Kaikoura has banked $82,150 on the year.
The second division went to yet another dual-eligible Kentucky invader as Kountry Tab was confidently handled by Atlee Bender to score as the 7-5 second choice. Leaving from the rail, Bender settled Kountry Tab in the pocket early as 41-1 shot Bravo Alpha (Doug Rideout) took the field of nine to the quarter in :27.4. Kountry Tab wheeled to the top at the half in :58.1 before trotting 2-1/2 lengths clear to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2.
Trotting home in :28.4, Kountry Tab fended off a late bid from the upset-minded Bravo Alpha, who came up three parts of a length short with Kountry Tab stopping the timer in 1:57.1. The Gambler (Jordan Ross) finished third at 24-1, with Helpfund (Trace Tetrick) finishing fourth at another big price of 65-1.
A royally bred son of Swan For All out of the millionaire mare Custom Cantab, Kountry Tab is trained by Erv Miller for owners Anthony Lombardi, Doug Overhiser and Never 2 Late Stable. The victory was the second in six tries for Kountry Tab and a career best for the earner of $73,917.
The stakes action concluded with Swan Bi Bi being as advertised as the 1-20 favorite with regular pilot Jordan Ross in the bike. Starting from post six, Ross wasted little time getting Swan Bi Bi to the top through an opening quarter of :28.3. The eight challengers showed their respect to the big favorite in the middle half, allowing him to go unchallenged through fractions of :59 and 1:29. Pocket-sitter Skyway Awestruck (Mike Peterson) remained within striking distance in the lane, but would finish a measured 1-1/2 lengths back of Swan Bi Bi, who cruised with a motionless Ross in the bike in 1:56.4. Spring Street (Ricky Macomber Jr.) finished 5-1/4 lengths back in third, with Pilot’s Lucky Day (Jason Miller) rounding out the super at 40-1.
The victorious gelded son of Swan For All-Bange Bi has now won five of six to begin his career for trainer Henry Graber Jr., with the last four of those coming in consecutive fashion. Swan Bi Bi has now racked up earnings of $72,365 for owners Indiana Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC, and Beentheredonethat Racing.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 13-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 15). The Friday card features a pair of Indiana Sire Stakes splits for 2-year-old male pacers in races one and four, to go along with a $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 in race 14 done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.