Anderson, IN – In Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s signature trotting event on Friday (Sept. 25), the $200,000 Grade 2 Caesars Trotting Classic presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds, On To Norway refused to be denied on his home track, going first-over en route to a 1:51.2 victory with John De Long in the sulky for Ron Burke.
Sent away as the 9-5 second choice from post three, On To Norway floated off the wings into fourth early in the mile while Antognoni S (Yannick Gingras) crossed over in front of Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) to command the field of eight at the quarter in :26.4. French Wine (Jason Bartlett) tipped from third on the backstretch, brushing to the lead to take control ahead of midway point trotted in :55. Moving into the final turn, On To Norway made his move to the outside, trotting first-over into third while French Wine remained on top to three-quarters in 1:23.2.
On To Norway dialed up the pressure spinning into the lane, charging alongside French Wine while Antognoni S split those rivals from the pocket to make it a three-across battle. Continuing to pick up steam in the lane, On To Norway trotted home in :27.3 to clear those foes in deep stretch, trotting to the wire clear by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2. Gimpanzee Dancer (Dave Miller) staged a late rally up the cones to get up for second at 95-1, with Frech Wine edging out Antognoni S for the show spot.
On To Norway has won 10 of 12 on the year, banking $586,750 on the season for owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. Bred by Bennett Farms Inc of MI, the 4-year-old Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding has won 37 of 45 lifetime, banking $1,247,131 in his career. Co-owner Frank Baldachino noted in the winner’s circle after that On To Norway would be pointed towards the Indiana Sire Stakes final on Friday, Oct. 9 then to the Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs for his next assignments.
Favorite Ken Hanover Wins G2 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby
In the co-feature of the evening immediately following the Caesars Trotting Classic, Ken Hanover utilized an aggressive steer by Tim Tetrick to score the victory as the 1-2 favorite in the $175,000 Grade 2 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby.
Ken Hanover left from post four, unable to find a seat on the first turn as Clever Cody (Luke Ebersole) rocketed off the gate to cross over before Dandy Ideal (Jason Batlett) was out from behind him to grab a narrow lead on the outside through a :26.1 first quarter. Dandy Ideal cleared giving open road to Ken Hanover who followed that move before crossing over to the cones on the lead through a hot opening half of :53.3. Ken Hanover remained on the throttle on the far turn, leading to three-quarters in 1:21.1 with Dandy Ideal in the pocket and Swingtown (Yannick Gingras) beginning to advance first-over from fourth.
Ken Hanover braced for the challenge of Dandy Ideal at the head of the lane, turning away that foe before Swingtown dove back to the cones to take aim up the inside. Swingtown lunged late in search of a 25-1 stunner, but could not reach Ken Hanover who held sway by a quarter length on the wire in 1:48.1. Maximus Miki (Scott Zeron) rallied late between foes to get up for third at 57-1 over Dandy Ideal.
That makes two consecutive stakes victories for Ken Hanover who arrived fresh off his win in the Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto in his last for trainer Roland Mallar. The 6-year-old stallion son of Captaintreacherous-KJ’s Justine has won four of 11 on the year, and 25 times overall for his career. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Ken Hanover has earned $354,441 on the year and $1,553,295 lifetime for owners Roland Mallar, Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.
The Reason is the Answer in the Madison County
The Reason driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Ron Burke stamped his claim winning the $70,000 2-year-old Madison County colts and trot.
Leaving from post five, The Reason surveyed the seven-horse field out of the gate as the 47-1 shot Whatsa Miumiu (Kevin Detweiler) stretched an early lead to the first turn in :26.3. The Reason cruised in fourth looking to track down Whatsa Miumiu, who passed the halfway mark in :55.4. The Reason played catch-up on the leader at the three-quarter turn in 1:25.4. Hitting the stretch, Whatsa Miumiu ran out of gas leaving The Reason open freeway up the middle to crash the wire in a lifetime mark 1:55.1 by a half-length. Lions Tale got up for second, while Heir To the Naughty battled for the show spot.
The Reason earns back-to-back wins on the season for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Libby And Purnel for a new lifetime total of $86,908. The Father Patrick colt paid $2.60 to win
Zephyr Kemp Leaves it Late in the Phil Langley Memorial
Zephyr Kemp driven by Todd McCarthy for trainer Marcus Melander picked up steam on the stretch to secure the $75,000 Phil Langley Memorial for 3-year-old colt trotters.
Leaving out of post five, Zephyr Kemp worked from behind as Mr Big Spender (Mike Wilder) notched along the first turn in :26.4. An early break from Dan D Man Can (Atlee Bender) in second opened up the field as Mr Big Spender glided past the halfway mark in :55.4. The field remained unchanged to the final turn in 1:24.3. Zephyr Kemp struck gold down the stretch accelerating through the wire to win by two lengths in 1:52. Mr Big Spender settled for second as Bravo Alpha (Trace Tetrick) scored third.
Owned by Kemppi Stables Oy Inc, Suojalampi Stable Inc, Pcw Racing LLC, Sjoeblum Racing Inc, Zephyr Kemp claimed his fifth win of the year increasing his lifetime earnings to $318,050.
Climatic Hanover Scores Big in Record Time in the Kentuckiana Stallion Management
Shocking the field, Climatic Hanover driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Lucas Wallin stole the show in the $285,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management to set a track record for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
Climatic Hanover found the rail quickly out of the wings in post three; meanwhile, Redice (Atlee Bender) took control through the first turn in :27.1 and continued to show the way through the halfway pole in :56. With Redice beginning to drift off the cones on the front, Climatic Hanover caused chaos in the stretch blazing to the wire along the cones in 1:52.2 winning by two and three quarters of a length. City Of Light (Scott Zeron) followed in second with Blue Ranger (Dexter Dunn) landing in third.
Setting a new track record for 2-year-old filly trotters in 1:52.2, Climatic Hanover raised her lifetime earnings to $153,333. She is owned by K Anderson Racing Stable. Climatic Hanover paid $59 to win.
The previous Track Record was 1:52.4, established by Nezuko Kamado S in the same event in 2025.
Sweet Lovin Lou cruised to victory in the Jenna’s Beach Boy
Routing the eight-horse field, Sweet Loving Lou driven by Scott Zeron for trainer Daniel Lagace was all business to win the $100,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy for 3-year-old colt pacers.
Sweet Lovin Lou paced out of the gate in fourth while Dancingdreamer (Dexter Dunn) rode the turn in :26.1. Sweet Lovin Lou would dominate the rest of the way as he accelerated on the backstretch to the half in :54.1 and led the field through the three-quarter turn in 1:22. Sweet Lovin Lou continued her dominance in the stretch winning by two lengths geared down late in 1:48.3. Prolific Blend (Austin Hanners) got up for second, while Dancingdreamer rounded out the trifecta.
The Sweet Lou colt is owned by Lagace Stables, Edwin Buhler, Big Als Stables and Brittany Farms Micki Rae. Swee Lovin Lou deposited into hir lifetime total of $562,967 for her third win of 2026.
Owleo’s Pride a Dominant Winner in the Kentuckiana Stallion Management
Owleo’s Pride left no doubt about it as the 3-5 favorite in in the $200,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for 2-year-old filly pacers, cruising by nine lengths with Trace Tetrick in the bike for trainer Ricky Macomber Jr.
Protecting her inside position, Owleo’s Pride got away third in line on the opening turn while Fauvette Hanover (Scott Zeron) crossed over from the far outside to cut the opening quarter in :26.1. Amazing Tammy (Tim Tetrick) moved to the lead briefly on the backstretch, before immediately being covered up by Owleo’s Pride who charged to the lead before the half in :55.2. Beginning to separate on the turn, Owleo’s Pride reached three-quarters in 1:23 before pacing away from a scattered field of fillies on her way to win in 1:51.1. Mystical JK (Kyle Wilfong) was second, with Fauvette Hanover third.
There was a spill in the backfield with Iwillalwayslouveu (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) going down around the final turn. The filly left the track under her own power with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. remaining on his drives for the remainder of the card.
Owleo’s Pride is a James Stonecipher homebred daughter of JK Endofanera-McFlirty. The filly has won three of seven on the year, banking $146,280 for Stonecipher and co-owner Ricky and Jamie Macomber.
Somemore Blue Retains the Advantage Over Arch-Rival in Carl Becker Memorial
Having now gotten the better of arch-rival Whoomp in their last three meetings, Somemore Blue remained red-hot as she took the $75,000 Carl Becker Memorial for Indiana Sired sophomore pacing fillies with Marcus Miller in the sulky for his father Erv.
Leaving from post five as the 1-2 favorite, Somemore Blue was seated in the pocket early with Whoomp (John De Long) intent on getting to the lead from her rail starting spot to a first quarter in :26.2. The two star fillies were shown respect in the middle stages, with Whoomp remaining in charge through fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.4. Somemore Blue tipped from the pocket at the head of the lane, with the rivalry renewing once more as the sprint for home began. Somemore Blue moved alongside Whoomp, with Whoomp briefly bobbling to her inside allowing Somemore Blue to rocket past with a :26 final fraction to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50. Whoomp was second, with It’s My Story (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) third, 6-1/2 lengths back of the winner.
A winner in seven of 10 on the year, Somemore Blue padded her seasonal earnings to $289,000 for owners Stepbystep Racing, Ken Duffy, Lava Java Stable and Never 2 Late Stable. The daughter of Rockin Image-Misssomebeach Blue was bred by Lavon Miller, and boasts $568,566 in career earnings with a record of 20-14-5-0. Co-owner Andy Willinger noted in the winner’s circle that Somemore Blue will finish out the Indiana Sire Stakes season, with a potential date with the Breeders Crown if all goes well for the remainder of her campaign.
Mr Bear Rebounds in Elevation
Fresh off his first career defeat in his last try, Mr Bear rebounded with a romp in the $75,000 Elevation for 2-year-old pacing colts for the team of Marcus and Erv Miller.
Miller floated the 1-5 favorite off the wings, methodically working his way to the front on the first turn to the outside of a revved-up Stonebridge Blitz (Yannick Gingras) through a :27 opening panel. Clearing on the backstretch, Mr Bear had things his way on the front end through middle-half fractions of :55.1 and 1:24. With urging from driver Marcus Miller, Mr Bear quickly opened up on his rivals in the lane, pacing away before being geared down on the wire winning by 3-3/4 lengths in a career best equaling 1:50.3. Stonebridge Blitz held for second, with Another Mile Again (Trace Tetrick) rallying for third.
Mr Bear has now won seven of eight on the year for owners Ervin Miller Stable, D&M Trading Ii, Levi Bontrager and Laura Perniciaro. Bred by Mark Adams and Timothy Sullivan, the Rockin Image-Mama’s Lil Beach gelding has banked $196,375 on the year.
Live racing resumes Saturday (Sept. 26) at Hoosier Park with a 12-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. first post. The program includes a $7,500 guarantee on the Late High-5 in the race 12 finale offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
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