Anderson, IN — Sophomore trotting fillies took to the track at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a pair of $49,000 splits for the sixth leg of Indiana Sire Stakes where Miracle Maven and Martz Seven got back in the win column on Wednesday (Aug. 20).
Miracle Maven and driver John De Long left from post five in the first division as the 7-5 second choice in the wagering behind Fifty To Win (Marcus Miller) who was riding a four-race win streak into Wednesday’s card. Miracle Maven left alertly to grab early control in the field of six through an opening quarter of :28. The trotting fillies turned into the backstretch headwind when Fifty To Win moved first-over from third to take over just beyond the half in :57.2. 13-1 longshot Let Em Dance (Kevin Lambright) charged first-over to take on the favorite around the final turn, moving alongside at three-quarters in 1:26.3.
Let Em Dance put away Fifty To Win at the top of the lane and appeared poised for the upset before Miracle Maven found room up the cones. Trotting home in :28.2, Miracle Maven rallied by Let Em Dance in the final stages of the mile to win by 1-1/4 lengths over the live longshot in 1:55.1. 15-1 shot CS Massive Jewels (Kyle Wilfong) rallied for the show spot, 2-3/4 lengths back of the winner.
The win was one of a pair on the night for trainer Henry Graber Jr. who trains the winning daughter of Don’t Let’em-Bad Babysitter for owners Hillside Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC., and Eleven Star Stables. Miracle Maven has won half of her six outings this season, and eight of 15 lifetime, good for career earnings of $284,815.
In the second split, last year’s Super Final champion Martz Seven pulled a mild 7-2 surprise with driver Kyle Wilfong. Leaving from the rail, Wilfong floated away third in the field of six while Ponda Jewel (Pete Wrenn) swooped down from the outside to lead to the quarter in :28.1. The tempo slowed to the half in :58.4 before Ponda Jewel was challenged by Classical Jane (Trace Tetrick) who moved first-over and alongside the leader while Martz Seven tipped off the cones to follow her cover at three-quarters in 1:28.3.
Turning for home, Ponda Jewel dug in to rebuff the challenge from Classical Jane before Martz Seven began to pick up steam from second-over. Sprinting home in :26.4, Martz Seven rallied to lead before trotting 1-1/4 lengths clear on the wire in 1:55.4. Ponda Jewel held for second, with A Million Dances (Mike Oosting) finishing third.
Trained by Walter Haynes Jr., Martz Seven has won three of nine in her sophomore campaign for owners Stephen Stoll and the Black And White Stable. The daughter of Swan For All-La Mirada has banked $93,528 on the year, and $303,615 lifetime following the sixth win of her career.
A 115-1 shocker in the evening’s 12 race triggered a pair of carryovers into Thursday’s (Aug. 21) card when Quickreturn and Kevin Lambright lit up the toteboard with the biggest win payout of the season thus far at $232. There will now be a carryover of $2,385 into the Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) on Thursday with a $10,000 guaranteed pool, to go along with a $1,770 carryover in the Early Pick 3 (races 2-4), in addition to the traditional $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and Late High 5 (race 14) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
Along with the wagering action, On To Norway headlines the Thursday festivities as he looks for his 13th consecutive victory in the second of two $50,000 Indiana Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting colts. The Ron Burke trainee leaves from post six in race 10 with regular pilot John De Long slated to drive the 3-2 morning-line favorite.
Free online programs for the Thursday card are available on the Hoosier Park website in addition to free access to race replays, while qualifier replays can be found at the Hoosier Park AV YouTube Channel. First post for the Thursday program is 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.