Anderson, IN – Coming from behind while never seeing the cones, Coach Stefanos driven by Marcus Miller for Erv Miller won his first of the year claiming the $22,000 Open Pace at Hoosier Park on Friday (May 22).
Electing to allow the field to battle for first out of the gate, Coach Stefanos in post eight settled into eighth in the back of the field while unable to find a seat along the rail. A three-wide affair at the front towards the first quarter saw Odds On Outlier (Peter Wrenn) lead the field in :26.3 tightly followed by Tellmeaboutit (LeWayne Miller) and Im Skinnydipin N (Trace Tetrick).
The lead did not last long for Odds On Outlier, as Im Skinnydipn N motored along the outside to leapfrog the leader. However, Crooked Smile followed the of Im Skinnydipin N to take the pole position, meeting the halfway mark in :56.
The nine-horse field continued to build excitement as Sanday A (John De Long) and Coach Stefanos trudged along the outside moving up the ranks quickly. Crooked Smile would maintain his lead at the three-quarter turn in 1:24.3 not without pressure from Sanday A making up ground on the right. Im Skinnydipin N faced a similar challenge flip-flopping position with Coach Stefanos beside him from second-over poised to strike.
Down the stretch, the field became scattered with the true challengers starting to reveal themselves. Coach Stefanos moved to the far outside, Crooked Smile in the middle and Im Skinnydipin N riding the rail as the three pacers slugged it out closing in on the finish. Coach Stefanos’s game plan came to fruition by executing the winning play with a :26 final split to beat out the open field in a photo by a neck in 1:51. Crooked Smile claimed second, while Im Skinnydipin N slid into third a half-length back.
The 6-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding is owned by Kenneth Duffy, D & M Trading Ii LLC and Mr. John Stefanos. The millionaire Coach Stefanos improved his lifetime earnings to $1,409,505 for his first win of the season. Coach Stefanos paid $7.80 to win.
Live racing at Hoosier Park continues Saturday night (May 23) with a 14-race card. The Saturday card will feature a $7,500 guaranteed Late Pick-4 and $7,500 guaranteed Late Hoosier High-5 offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. First post is set for 5:30 p.m.
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