by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Royal Passion swept to victory in the $15,000 final of the Miss Windfall Series, a late closing event open to 3- and 4-year-old Indiana sired fillies and mares that were non-winners of $7,500 lifetime, off a tough front end effort at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday (April 10).

Linscott Photography

Trace Tetrick piloted Royal Passion to victory in a time of 1:56.1.

In just her third start of the season, Royal Passion has now increased her lifetime bankroll to more than $17,000. After winning both legs of the Windfall Series, the lightly raced filly is now 3-for-3 on the year. Driver Trace Tetrick steered the filly to victory from the rail spot for trainer Rod Lorenzo after Jason Dillander chose to drive the slight betting favorite, Reaching Chip, from post five.

It was a race filled with miscues as the 10 horse field showed their inexperience from the start. Iza May and driver Kayne Kauffman took themselves out of the race early after a break behind the starting car. A miscue from Miss Kilo and driver Ricky Macomber, Jr. stepping out of the gate spread the field through the first turn in an opening split of :27.

Tetrick and Royal Passion maintained their rail position and made the front as they caught a breather down the backside through a soft half in :57.2. Bittersweet Best and driver Peter Wrenn benefitted from a pocket trip as Jason Dillander and Reaching Chip had their work cut out for them from the fourth spot.

Pulling first up down the backside to move around a tiring Skyway Shania, Reaching Chip and Dillander began their quest to the front heading into the last turn. As they reached the final turn, the trip proved to be a taxing one as Reaching Chip showed a touch of roughness through a three-quarter time of 1:27.1.

Bittersweet Best and Wrenn tipped out of the pocket down the lane only to be denied by Royal Passion as she stopped the clock in 1:56.1 with a closing panel of :29. Reaching Chip rallied late to finish a hard fought second as Bittersweet Best held on for the third place finish.

“She’s good on the gate and a really nice filly to drive,” Tetrick said of his mount. “I knew I wanted to be somewhere towards the front, the trip worked out for us and she held on tough at the end of it. I was really happy with the way she fought off those other mares down the stretch. I thought she may get tired but she felt good at the wire.”

Sired by Royal Art, Royal Passion is owned and bred by Dobbins Standardbred Inc. of Bryant, Ala. Royal Passion nearly doubled her career earnings with the win as she is now three for five in her career. As the bettor’s second choice, Royal Passion paid $5.20 to win.

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