by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a quartet of $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes on Tuesday (Aug. 6) as the 2013 crop of freshman pacing colts and fillies opened their series in impressive fashion.

The fastest mile of the night was produced in the opening round of the Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts as Always B Miki stormed home a winner in 1:53.1, a lifetime best performance.

With Peter Wrenn at the lines, Always B Miki was able to overcome a miscue at the start to win by 5-1/2 lengths in front of Next Thing Smoke’n and Tyler Smith. The 1:53.1 score was just one second shy of the Hoosier Park’s track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings. Trained by Joe Holloway, Always B Miki (Always A Virgin-Artstopper) notched his second win from three seasonal outings while sending his bankroll to $26,475 for his connections.

Doctor Carter followed suit in the second split of the Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and was piloted by Trace Tetrick to a 1:53.4 lifetime best score. Sired by Total Truth and out of Doctor Cindy, Doctor Carter was able to take advantage of a pocket trip and held off a late charge from Keiths Studio Art to notch his third victory of the season.

As the public’s second choice, Doctor Carter returned $11.60 to his backers at the window. Trained by Steve Carter, Doctor Carter has now won three of four lifetime outings while earning $28,156 lifetime.

Indiana’s 2-year-old pacing fillies were also out in full force and made a good showing through two $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes divisions.

Always Dee One and Ricky Macomber, Jr. rallied from well off the pace to score in the opening division in 1:54.3. Dismissed at 10-1, Always Dee One found her best strides late in the lane to win by two lengths over Victoria Ivy and Jason Dillander.

Trained by Ron Burke, the rookie filly notched her maiden breaking win from three seasonal outings. Sired by Always A Virgin and out of L Dees Rosemel, Always Dee One has now earned $19,000 for her connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino.

Color’s A Virgin and Jason Dillander used a sharp, front running score to pull the upset in the final division of the Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Trained by Brian Brown, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Full Color cruised around Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths-mile oval in 1:54.4 to score her maiden breaking victory. Using a: 27.3 final panel, Color’s A Virgin held off a late charge from Tough Rose and Sam Widger to finish a length in front of her rivals. The rookie filly has now earned $20,600 from two starts for her connections at Emerald Highlands Farm.

The second leg of the Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies will continue on Tuesday (Aug. 20) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The second division for the 2-year-old pacing colts will be the featured attraction on Wednesday (Aug. 21). Both of the four leg series will culminate with a $200,000 final slated for Sept. 11 at Hoosier Park.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Wednesday (Aug. 7) with a 14-race card highlighted by one division of the Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts. The 160-day all harness racing meet will follow a Tuesday-Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:30 p.m.