Anderson, IN — A quartet of six-figure Grand Circuit stakes for 3-year-olds highlighted the 13-race Harrah’s Hoosier Park program on Friday (Oct. 31), where On To Norway extended his win streak to 19 in the Carl Erskine and Captain Optimistic earned millionaire status in the Monument Circle. Meanwhile, Rodeo Drive Deo and Miracle Maven captured the Friday night filly features with emphatic performances.
On To Norway left from the rail in the $185,000 Carl Erskine, for 3-year-old trotting colts, tabbed as the 1-20 favorite with regular pilot John DeLong aboard. On To Norway floated away in fourth on the first turn while Operator (Kyle Wilfong) swept to the lead from post 9 through a :27.3 first quarter. Wilfong grabbed leather on the backstretch, tapping the brakes to the half in :57 when DeLong tipped On To Norway off the cones and brushed alongside the leader around the far turn and to three-quarters in 1:26. On To Norway surged ahead at the top of the lane, trotting home in :27.4 to reach the wire first by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4. His Ron Burke stablemate Cheers Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) shook loose late to get up for second at 63-1 while Operator held for the show spot.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal, On To Norway has not tasted defeat since a second-place effort in his 3-year-old debut, on April 3. The gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act has earned $565,931 through 20 starts this season.
Trainer Ron Burke came right back with in the next stakes event as Rodeo Drive Deo notched her first win since the Jugette with a brush-and-crush victory in the $113,750 USS Indianapolis Memorial, for sophomore pacing fillies. Driver David Miller was able to grab a seat in third with Rodeo Drive Deo from post 9 as Fansville (Dexter Dunn) paced around Wunderkindbluechip (Atlee Bender) to reach the quarter first in :26.4. Once clear, Fansville slowed the tempo to the half in :55.3 when Rodeo Drive Deo blasted first-over from third, rocketing to the top and extending a six-length lead as she slammed the accelerator to three-quarters in 1:22.2. The deficit proved too much for her nine foes as Rodeo Drive Deo coasted through the stretch before winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51. Good As You (Marcus Miller), off at 56-1, rallied up the cones to be second, with Baret (Scott Zeron) closing on the outside to be third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty LLC and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Rodeo Drive Deo has won seven of 19 starts this season while racking up $585,445 on the year. The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Miss L A was bred by Deo Volente Farms and Cool Cat Racing and is knocking on the door of $1 million made with $979,245 in career earnings.
A pair of Indiana Sires Stakes champions dueled to the wire in the $131,500 Crossroads of America, for 3-year-old trotting fillies, with Miracle Maven getting the better of Martz Seven in a tight finish. Miracle Maven and John DeLong got away fifth from post 8 while Martz Seven (Kyle Wilfong) raced to an early lead with a :27 first quarter. Better Tak’em (Jordan Ross) moved around Martz Seven on the backstretch, getting to the half in :56 before coming under siege from a first-over Divine Things (Trace Tetrick) with Miracle Maven towed second-over at three-quarters in 1:26.3. Miracle Maven surged three-deep around the top pair before Martz Seven split horses late to take aim, coming up a neck short as Miracle Maven got to the wire first by a neck in 1:56.1. Classical Jane (Yannick Gingras) joined her winning Henry Graber Jr.-trained stablemate on the trifecta ticket, getting up for third at 45-1.
This year’s 3-year-old champion in Indiana, Miracle Maven has won four of her last five races and seven of 12 on the year for owners Hillside Stables, Indiana Stables, Frank Baldachino and Beasty LLC. Bred by Noah Wickey, the daughter of Don’t Let’em-Bad Babysitter has earned $363,507 in 2025 and vaulted over the half-million-dollar mark in her career following her 12th lifetime victory.
The evening concluded with Captain Optimistic holding up his end of the bargain as the 4-5 favorite in the $172,500 Monument Circle, for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Scott Zeron was aggressive off the wings, parked to the outside of leader Papi’s Rocket (Yannick Gingras) to a :26.2 opening quarter. Captain Optimistic cleared on the backstretch, racing to the half in :55.1 before Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) moved first-over and raced at the leader’s wheel to three-quarters in 1:22.3. Captain Optimistic turned away Swingtown before holding Papi’s Rocket at bay from the pocket to cruise to a 1:49.4 victory by 1-1/2 lengths. Trainer Ron Burke swept positions two through five on the Hoosier High 5 ticket with Papi’s Rocket, Railroad Station (David Miller), Rick Wink (Chris Page) and Swingtown, respectively.
The winning Captain Optimistic is trained by Nancy Takter for owners 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms and Deo Volente Farms. Bred by Fair Winds Farm, the Captaintreacherous-Cinomony colt has won five of 17 races on the season, good for $571,210 on the year, and became the sport’s newest millionaire with lifetime earnings of $1,026,040 following the win.
The week of racing concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday (Nov. 1) with a nine-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.