by Tammy Knox, director of race marketing affairs, Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — The 2-year-old trotters hit the track on Thursday (June 30) at Hoosier Park to kick off the first round of series action for Indiana sired colts and fillies.

Two divisions of the $15,000 Fred Terry for colts and geldings were held along with two divisions of the $15,000 George Sholty for fillies. The series will conclude the final weekend of racing, offering two $30,000 finals on Friday (July 15).

Headlining the first division of the Fred Terry series was Cincinnati Star and driver Trace Tetrick. The duo went out quickly for the lead and never looked back, winning their division in a time of 2:02.1. Sweetasmusic and Walter Haynes, Jr. finished three-quarters of a length back in second, followed by E R Starla and Don Eash for third.

Cincinnati Star came into the first round of the Terry Series with three starts on the Indiana county fair circuit. With one win recorded in her first career start, she is now two for four in her brief career. The win also put her just under the $10,000 mark in career earnings for owners Peggy Carter, Sheila Hummel, Robert Reid, and Great American Stables. Steve Carter trains the daughter of Cincinnati Kid, who was a $19,000 purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale last fall.

Our Miss Abby was a 2:01.2 winner.

In the second division of the Terry Series, Our Miss Abby and driver Travis Seekman sat patiently behind She’s Country and Charlie Conrad as fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:31.1 were placed on the board. In the stretch, Seekman moved Our Miss Abby to the outside and trotted home for the easy win by 4-1/2 lengths in a final time of 2:01.2. She’s Country held strong for second followed by E R Kayla and Eash for third. The Danish Delight filly paid $28.60 to win as a longshot in the race.

Owned by Sawgrass Farms LLC, Our Miss Abby was making her first career start after finishing third in her only qualifier at Balmoral Park. Joe Seekman trains the filly, who is a homebred by James and Joyce Jesk’s Sawgrass Farms.

In the trotting colt divisions, Velten San Siro and driver Adam Short took honors in the first division of the George Sholty. Short sat patiently until the final turn before moving Velten San Siro up to challenge, holding on for the win by one length in a time of 2:01.2. JL Scooting Victor and Dan Shetler finished second followed by Trottin Tiger and leading driver Peter Wrenn for third.

Linscott Photography

Velten San Siro was a narrow winner in a time of 2:01.2.

Velten San Siro was overlooked by bettors, paying $24.20 to win. The Kilimanjaromontana colt had one previous qualifier at Balmoral Park as a prep for the Sholty Series. Trained by Ora Miller, Velten San Siro is owned by Bernard Johnston.

In the final 2-year-old trotting division of the night, Kid Formula and Ricky Macomber cruised under the wire in the Sholty Series for the win in a time of 2:02.2. The Ron-Burke trained colt was a half-length ahead of Umay Befair and Wrenn for the win. Roper In Action and Joe Essig, Jr. finished third.

Kid Formula is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino. He had two previous qualifying wins at The Meadows prior to his racing debut in the Sholty Series.