by Brad Meadows for Hoosier Park

Ho Lotta Speed and Joe Essig Jr. were unmatched down the stretch and pulled away to a convincing victory of five and one-quarter lengths over On With Life and Doug Rideout. Ho Lotta Speed was quiet for the first half mile but proved to be the cream of the crop down the stretch. She paced the mile in a career best 1:54.4 in the second leg of the Genesis series Friday, May 19.

“She’s better from behind,” said Essig Jr. “She can go from gate to wire just as easy. This is just a nice filly.”

Jim Linscott photo

Ho Lotta Speed paced the mile in a career best 1:54.4 in the second leg of the Genesis series.

First out to take the lead were Bluebird Pink and Josh Sutton, coming from the inside post position, followed by On With Life and Rideout. On With Life and Rideout set a quick opening fraction of :26.2 after taking the front position. Ho Lotta Speed opted to stay off the pace early and found the seventh position after the first quarter mile. Ho Lotta Speed and Essig Jr. clearly had their work cut out for them.

Bluebird Pink and On With Life battled back and forth for the front position during the first half-mile. L-N-A’s Dream and Ricky Macomber Jr. tipped out to take a short lead entering the stretch. Ho Lotta Speed and Essig Jr. pushed three-wide at the three-quarter pole and found prime position to make a push.

“I wasn’t real eager in getting to the front,” said Essig Jr. “She had a lot left, we were just waiting for daylight. She did it all on her own down the stretch.”

Ho Lotta Speed found daylight in the middle of the track and made an incredible push to the wire. Ho Lotta Speed looked marvelous down the stretch and left no room for the other fillies to catch her. She saved her best for the closing quarter, coming from off the pace and posting a phenomenal :27.3 closing quarter.

Ho Lotta Speed is the daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s. She is in her first season of racing and has yet to finish out of the top-three. She paid $4.20, $3.00, and $2.40. Finishing in third place were Martz Creek Danty and Pat Melloy Jr.

Notes and Quotes From Hoosier Park

Bach To Head Parti Gras Event —

Sebastian Bach, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Skid Row, will make a special guest appearance at Hoosier Park for Parti Gras at the Park Saturday, May 27. The singer will perform the National Anthem and will also sign autographs during the evening.

Gates open early at 5 p.m. with live entertainment provided by Zanna-Doo, based out of Indianapolis. The band will perform near the Grandstand Paddock until 7 p.m. Also, fans age 18 and over will receive free Mardi Gras beads.

Following the National Anthem, Bach will sign autographs from 6:30 until 8 p.m. on the north end of the apron.

To help complement the evening, the Homestretch Restaurant will offer a New Orleans-themed buffet. Items offered include chicken and andoulle gumbo, shrimp scampi Creole, stuffed trout wrapped in apple-smoked bacon, and red beans and rice.

Pepsi Family Saturdays will also continue for the young racing fans. Face painting, pony rides, and barn tours of the backstretch will be available free of charge from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m.

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Notable-

**Pat Wood Honored With State Award. Pat Wood, longtime guest services representative at Hoosier Park, was honored with a Hoosier Hospitality award Tuesday, May 16. Wood was one of 21 people around the state recognized with the award. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman made the presentation to Wood at the Statehouse.

**Gray Gets First Win. R. Stevie Gray Jr. won his first career race Wednesday, May 17. The 25-year-old driver was making his 17^th start since getting his license at the beginning of the meet. He guided Vas Maneist to victory in the evening’s third race. Gray’s father, Steve, trains the five-year-old trotter.

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“Quotable”-

**Pat Wood on receiving the Hoosier Hospitality Award – “It was one of the nicest days of my life. The whole day was like a fairy tale and it’s something that I will never forget. It makes it even more special that Hoosier Park is the one that nominated me and that was who I got to represent for the award.”

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Upcoming Promotions-
**Preakness 131. Kentucky Derby winners Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado will attempt to add another jewel of the Triple Crown to their resume Saturday, May 20 for the 131^st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse. Doors open early at 9:30 a.m. with the first race from Pimlico going to post at 10:30 a.m. The Preakness has an estimated post time of 6:14 p.m.

**On The Farm. In conjunction with Pepsi Family Saturdays throughout the harness racing season, On The Farm will bring in an added attraction for the kids. A petting zoo, courtesy of the Pendleton Heights High School Future Farmers of America, will be available Saturday, May 20 during the special event. All activities, including face painting, pony rides, and barn tours, will be located in the Grandstand Paddock area.

**Parti Gras at the Park. Sebastian Bach, lead singer for the rock band Skid Row, will make a special appearance during Parti Gras at the Park Saturday, May 27. Mardi Gras beads will be given away at the door and musical entertainment will be provided by Zanna-Doo, a local band based out of Indianapolis. Bach will perform the National Anthem and will be available for autographs from 6:30 until 8 p.m.

**Under The Big Top. The Peru circus will make a stop at Hoosier Park Saturday, June 3 for Under The Big Top night. The circus will offer numerous acts, including a juggler, German wheel, unicycle, trampoline, and clowns. Pepsi Family Saturdays will also continue with free pony rides, face painting, and barn tours.