by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Right Touch rattled off a sharp, front end effort in the final $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes preliminary leg for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (Sept. 4).

With trainer Ray Paver at the lines, Right Touch was able to upset the heavily favored Night Pro to score his fourth win of the season in 1:52.

Linscott Photography

Right Touch was a 1:52 winner in Indiana Sire Stakes action.

In an abbreviated field of five, Paver left no room for error as he sent Right Touch off the gate alertly to grab the first call in a leisurely :28. Nitro and Ricky Macomber, Jr. benefitted from a pocket trip while Sweet Talkin Satin and Trace Tetrick followed intently in third. Night Pro and Pete Wrenn opted for an uncharacteristic trip off the pace and were fifth along the rail as the field approached the second station in :57.3.

Right Touch continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:25.2 before feeling a threat on the outside from Sweet Talkin Satin who was in hot pursuit first over.

As the field turned for home, it was an all-out sprint for the wire. Right Touch appeared to have saved his best for last as he powered home in :26.3 to win by two lengths. Sweet Talkin Satin battled gamely to finish second while Night Pro found himself with too much ground to make up on the end of the mile and had to settle for a third place finish.

Right Touch returned $11.40 to his backers at the window for the victory.

Sired by Always A Virgin, Right Touch has now won four of 11 outings while amassing $133,418 this season. An Indiana Sire Stakes champion at two, Right Touch has now won nine of 21 lifetime outings while bankrolling $348,404 for his connections of Knox Services, Ray Paver and John Rhoads.

Right Touch will be aimed at the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, slated for Sept. 11 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Hoosier Park will highlight the 2013 Standardbred season on Sept. 11 with Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers convening for the annual Hoosier Champions Night, an evening with purse totals topping the $1.1 million mark. This action-packed Wednesday night of racing will feature the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes finals for the 2- and 3-year-olds. The first race will line up behind the starting gate at 5:30 p.m.