Anderson, IN — The Rick Plano barn was firing on all cylinders on Saturday (Sept. 19) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, racking up four wins, including the co-featured $22,000 Open Trot, with Flagman piloted by Kevin Lambright.
Leaving from the outside post 6 as the 3-5 favorite, Flagman flexed his muscle early, crossing over quickly along the cones to lead the field to the opening quarter in :27.2. Stalked intently by Finite (Trace Tetrick) from the pocket, Flagman was well rated in the second stanza, crossing the halfway point in :56.2. Unchallenged on the final turn, Flagman tripped the beam at three-quarters in 1:25.1 while Eugene The Genius (Brandon Bates) led the outer flow in fourth with Yo Beth D (Kyle Wilfong) in tow.
Spinning for home, Flagman braced for the challenge of Finite, who tipped to the outside in search of a 6-1 upset. Flagman countered to the inside, trotting home in :27.3 to fend Finite off by three parts of a length in 1:52.4. Yo Beth D rallied from the backfield to round out the trifecta, 1-1/4 lengths back of the winner.
It was the fourth win of the season and career win No. 49 for Flagman. The 9-year-old Guccio-Magic Lindy gelding boasts a career bankroll of $865,219 for owner Maryann Plano.
Plano’s other training victories came with Dans Credit ($9.80, 1:53.2), driven by Atlee Bender, and Famous Father ($2.60, 1:53.2), with Trace Tetrick, before Plano piloted Toy’s For You ($3.60, 1:53.3) to victory in the evening’s 12th race.
In the evening’s other co-feature, the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Lyin’ Eyes and driver Joey Putnam wired the field.
The 8-5 bettors’ choice from the outside post 6, Lyin’ Eyes wasted little time clearing Angel Hill (Trace Tetrick) to assume control through a blistering :26 opening panel. Putnam grabbed into Lyin’ Eyes in the middle stages, and she continued to have things her way up front through middle-half fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1.
Angel Hill took aim from the pocket turning for home, looking the pacesetter in the eye as the two hooked up midway through the stretch. Digging in along the cones, Lyin’ Eyes punched back and delivered the knockout blow to score by a half length in 1:49.4 over Angel Hill. Aintnothingucando (Kyle Wilfong) rallied home in :25.2 to get up for the show spot.
A winner in two of her last three starts, Lyin’ Eyes has won three of 16 races on the year for trainer Joe Putnam. The 5-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus-Miswave Hanover is owned by J P Racing, Joey Putnam, and Crazy Parrot Farm, and owns $542,521 in career earnings following her 12th career victory.
Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park resumes on Wednesday (Sept. 23) with a 14-race program featuring $10,000 guarantees in the Late Pick-4 (races 11-14) and Late High-5 (race 14) in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
The Wednesday card kicks off Caesars Trotting Classic week at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the track’s signature trotting event taking place on Friday (Sept. 25), in addition to seven additional Grand Circuit events. First post each night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park is 5:30 p.m.
For more information on the live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.