Anderson, IN — Swiss Lights, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Jeff Cullipher, spoiled the Hoosier homecoming of Odds On Mr Mamba as the Rockin Image gelding pulled off a mild 9-2 upset in the $95,000 third leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers on a wet Friday night (June 26) at Hoosier Park.
Slotted into post 6, Swiss Lights jumped away from the gate most quickly of any. Grabbing the rail to take an early lead, Swiss Lights led the eight-horse field to the first turn in :26.1 with Dancingdreamer (Marcus Miller) following closely.
Swiss Lights stayed strong to the halfway point in :54.3 with Dancingdreamer, What Nooo Waay (John DeLong), King Tellit (Jay Cross) and the post-time favorite Odds On Mr Mamba (Peter Wrenn) giving chase. Nearing the turn, Odds On Mr Mamba transitioned to the outside to eventually be first-over on Swiss Lights. Building momentum over the sloppy track, Swiss Lights led the field through the three-quarter turn in 1:22.2.
Swiss Lights refused to open the door to his pursuers, picking up steam down the homestretch in :26.2 to fend off a late charge from Dancingdreamer and Odds On Mr Mamba. Swiss Lights crossed the wire in 1:48.4 for a new lifetime mark, 2-3/4 lengths clear of Dancingdreamer, who got up for second while Odds On Mr Mamba had to settle for third.
The Rockin Image gelding is owned by Pollack Racing LLC and Jeff Cullipher while being bred by Merlie Schwartz. Swiss Lights added his third win of the season, boosting his lifetime earnings to $207,846. Swiss Lights paid $11.20 to win.
Later on the card, M-M’s Bud remained hot to repeat in the $22,000 Open Pace with John DeLong aboard for trainer Alvin Miller.
M-M’s Bud found a seat in third from the outside post 7 on the first turn, with Golden Bay N (Trace Tetrick) cutting the quarter in :26.3. The field raced single file to the half in :55.4 before M-M’s Bud steamrolled first-over on the far turn to wrestle the lead away at three-quarters in 1:23.1. Carrying momentum into the stretch, M-M’s Bud cruised home by 2-1/2 lengths on the wire to stop the clock in 1:49.3. Crooked Smile (Jordan Ross) was second, with Golden Bay N holding for third.
M-M’s Bud has won half of his 10 starts at age 5, banking $73,790 on the year. Owned by Ted Comerford, Alvin Miller and Marvin Schwartz, the Tellitlikeitis gelding sports a career bankroll of $379,821.
Atlee Bender also had a night worth celebrating, tacking on a win on the card with Go Pikachu Go after the reinsman scored his 1,000th career driving victory earlier in the day at the Lebanon, Ky., fairgrounds aboard Aww Suki Suki Na for trainer Joey Ayotte.
Atlee Bender has been one of the top drivers at Hoosier Park the last few years, having a career year in 2025, in which he accumulated $3.66 million in purses won with 235 wins across the Midwest. In 2022, Bender totaled 1,000 career starts in a season for the first time in his career, kickstarting consistency in the years to follow despite injury in 2024 that knocked him out of half of that season.
Bender’s first career win came on July 30, 2016, at Vernon Downs, taking Jet Airway to the winner’s circle for trainer Erv Miller. Likewise, Bender’s first win at Hoosier Park came in 2020 with Adjacent for Miller. Bender has since become a regular for the Miller barn, with his most recent win for him with Dan D Man Can in the third leg of the $97,000 INSS 3-year-old trot on Thursday (June 25). Additionally, Bender drives at Oak Grove, where he has become a staple at the Kentucky track.
This season, Bender has 71 of his 120 wins at Hoosier Park, putting him in the top six for driver wins. Bender has already hit the million-dollar mark on the year, putting him in a strong position to achieve another career year in the business.
Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park resumes on Saturday (June 27) with a 14-race card headlined by the $94,500 third leg of Indiana Sires Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies with the rivalry once again renewed between Whoomp and Somemore Blue in the evening’s 10th race. First post is 5:30 p.m.