Anderson, IN — Finding another gear late, Drink Up Drink Up driven by Brandon Bates for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. returned to winning ways downing the $22,000 Open Trot at Hoosier on Saturday (May 9).
Starting the race competitively, the field moved four wide as the trotters fought for the lead. Eventually from his assigned post four, Drink Up Drink Up found the rail in third as Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) beat out Cs Flying Co-pilot (Marcus Miller) to lead the field at the first quarter in :26.2.
Trotting down the back stretch, the field grew stagnant in a single file line through the halfway mark in :55.3. Content with their position at this point in the race, the six-horse field remained unchanged to the three-quarter pole, led by Ponda Jet in 1:25.1.
The first bit of action since the start of the race came from Finite (Trace Tetrick) in fifth, who broke the silence first-over before flushing Drink Up Drink Up. Heading into the stretch, Drink Up Drink Up glided past Cs Flying Co-pilot, leaving only Ponda Jet in his way of a winner’s circle visit.
Continuing that momentum, Drink Up Drink Up chugged along the outside to beat out the post time favorite Ponda Jet by a length to the wire in 1:53.1. Ponda Jet settled for second, while Famous Father got up for third.
The Trixton gelding, Drink Up Drink Up, is owned by Adam Friedland and Brian Carsey. Drink Up Drink Up added his fourth win of the season to increase his lifetime earnings to $421,058. Drink Up Drink Up paid $11.60 to win.
Later in the card in race 11, Tarshish driven by Marcus Miller for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. cruised to a three length win in the $22,000 Filly & Mare Open 1-2.
Moving out of the gate quickly in post five, Tarshish found an early matchup against Goo Goo Won (Kyle Wilfong), who beat out Tarshish to the quarter in :26.2. Holding her lead in the backstretch in :55.0, Goo Goo Won followed closely by Tarshish set the pace as the post time favorite, Angel Hill (Trace Tetrick), gained ground uncovered on the outside after being at the back of the field. With Angel Hill advancing, Miller pulled Tarshis out of the pocket, quickly grabbing control from Goo Goo Won at three-quarters in 1:23.2. After a decisive move at the turn, Tarshish did not look back striding down the homestretch to break the wire in 1:50.3. Goo Goo Won claimed second unchallenged with Wild Rosa (Travis Seekman) finishing third.
The 4-year-old Tarshish recorded her first win of the season for owner by Joanne Samples. The daughter of Luck B Withyou boosted her lifetime earnings to $388,255 after the victory. Tarsish paid $7.80 to win.
Next week, live racing at Hoosier returns on Wednesday (May 13) with a 14-race card featuring a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 (race 14) offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program, first post is 5:30 p.m.