by Kimberly French, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — The apron was packed, the winners’ circle was standing room only and there were many tears of joy as Freaky Feet Pete entered the winners’ circle at Hoosier Park on Saturday (October 10) after capturing an emotional edition of the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers over the sport’s top ranked horse in Wiggle It Jiggleit. It was as ‘Pete’ heard the roar of the crowd, as he certainly received overwhelming support from nearly all present at the Anderson oval, as he paced strongly through the lane to best his rival in 1:50.1. Vague Traces rounded out the trifecta.

Linscott Photo

Freaky Feet Pete scored in the $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

“They are both very good horses,” explained winning pilot Trace Tetrick. “You can’t take anything away from Wiggle It Jiggleit. I knew he has a history of coming back on the inside when he is headed, so I was patient and waited to pull my horse out. I knew when I saw the lights on the end of the toteboard that I had it. It is a terrific feeling to win a race like this with him, but he has just been so good all year long.”

Wiggle It Jiggleit, who left from post position three with Montrell Teague in the bike, was the post time favorite at 1-5 for his conditioner Clyde Francis and owner George Teague. He was sent immediately to the lead while Tetrick placed ‘Pete’ in second from post 10. The two geldings remained in that very same position through spits of 27.2, 56.1 and 1:24.1 until Tetrick popped his horse from the garden spot midway into the stretch. Freaky Feet Pete drew alongside his rival, edged clear several hundred feet before the wire and placed a length and a quarter of daylight between him and the Little Brown Jug victor.

The son of Rockin Image and Pilgrim’s Punch mare Skyway Lori is trained by Larry Rheinheimer and owned by Mary Jo and Marty Rheinheimer. Freaky Feet Pete paid $5.80 to win as the public’s second choice and paced his last quarter mile in :26. Wiggle It Jiggleit paid $2.10 to show and Vague Traces provided $4.10 to his supporters for his third place finish.

With the triumph, Freaky Feet Pete punched his ticket to the Breeders Crown and thrilled Indiana harness racing fans by illustrating he does indeed deserve the distinction of top ten status. His overall resume now stands at 22-19-2-0, with his 2015 record at 13-11-2-0, with his only defeats coming at the hooves of Wakizashi Hanover and Wiggle It Jiggleit.

“Yes, we are going to Breeders Crown,” Rheinheimer said over the unabashed cheers from the throng around the winners’ circle and with a smile that could not be larger. “We let the horse tell us what to do and tonight he told us.”

“I never give Trace any instructions,” he continued. “I told him before the race to just be safe and good luck. He has a done a terrific job with this horse all year long, I have to give him the credit for that and the season we have had. That is why I never need to give him instructions.”