from the Hoosier Park Publicity Department

Pleiades Bluegrass held off the early pace and surged to the front in deep stretch to take the $12,000 first leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers Friday, April 22 at Hoosier Park. From post position two, and with driver Brett Miller in the sulky, Pleiades Bluegrass paced to victory in a time of 1:56.3, a career best.

“She (Pleiades Bluegrass) raced very well tonight,” said Miller. “She seems to mature more in every start that she makes. I wanted to get in behind the leader (Chello’s Sin D) early in the race.”

Chello’s Sin D and driver Joe Essig Jr. took the early command, leading the field of eight into the first quarter in :28.2. Shortly after the quarter, Fuzzy Finance and trainer-driver Don Eash made a bid for the lead. Leading in single file to the half-mile pole, Fuzzy Finance hit the marker in :58.4.

Fuzzy Finance continued her pace around the final turn. She still led the way into the stretch after pacing three-quarters in 1:27.3. Miller’s plan worked out in the stretch drive. Fuzzy Finance and Chello’s Sin D were heads apart in the stretch until Pleiades Bluegrass split rivals and went on through to win the first division of the Sires Stakes.

“I was surprised to see Eash’s horse (Fuzzy Finance) go straight to the front so early,” said Miller. “Last week, we had the nine hole so I had to go to the front early in the race. The inside post position we had tonight helped out a lot.”

The win was the first for Pleiades Bluegrass this season. The three-year-old is one for three in 2005 along with one second place finish and one third place finish. Dr. Luel Overstreet of Henderson, Ky. owns the daughter of Storm Damage. The brown filly is trained by John Merkel. The first leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes was one of two non-betting events to kick off the evening of racing.

Natty Kay Records Win in Sires Stakes

Natty Kay and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. battled harsh conditions and a sloppy track to claim victory in the first leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old fillies Friday, April 22 at Hoosier Park. The daughter of Kentucky Spur went gate to wire in a time of 1:55.1.

Due to pre-race scratches, the field at post consisted of a small but competitive field of five pacing fillies. As the gate folded, Natty Kay and Crackling Rose, with driver Brett Miller, pulled ahead of the field to battle for the early lead. The fillies were side-by-side at the first fraction in a time of :27.0. Natty Kay picked up the pace to take the lead down the backstretch, pacing the second quarter in :31.3 for a half-mile time of :58.3.

Tinivizion and Don Irvine Jr. made a strong move from the back of the pack to challenge Natty Kay coming into the final turn. The pacers were neck and neck at the third fraction in 1:28.2. Natty Kay showed great stamina and closing speed as she paced a lightening quick final quarter in :26.4 to outlast the field. Tinivizion held on for second, while Crackling Rose took third.

Strategy worked out well for Macomber Jr. in the race. The driver wanted to get out of the gate early and let the filly pace out in front. “He (Dan Perdue) told me to take her hard off of the gate. She pretty much took off to the front for me and stayed there the whole race.”

Macomber Jr. was aware of the strong move Irvine Jr. made to take the lead. However, the driver was confident that Tinivizion would not be able to out-pace Natty Kay down the stretch.

“We came on real good in that last quarter, it was pretty quick,” said Macomber Jr. “We had the advantage of being out in front down the stretch. I really didn’t think he (Irvine Jr.) would be able to take us coming down the stretch.”

Frank Baldachino, Neal Greenberg, and Mark P’Pool own Natty Kay. Dan Perdue trains the three-year-old for the owners. The win puts the filly over the $20,000 mark for her career.

The non-betting race was held before the first post time of the evening at Hoosier Park. The final of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old fillies will be held during Hoosier Cup Night, the last night of the Standardbred Meet Saturday, June 25.

Kieanna’s Angel best in the feature

Kieanna’s Angel and driver Roger Cullipher came from the back of the pack, found room in deep stretch, and then paced their way to victory in a featured $13,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace on Friday. At odds of 12-1, the duo paced the mile in a lifetime best 1:54.

Kieanna’s Angel had to wait her turn as the field of 10 got the race underway. Graceous Interlude, with driver Brian Carpenter aboard, took over the lead before they reached the quarter pole in :26², but the post time favorites, Nells Bells and driver Brett Miller, wasted no time getting to the front early in the mile contest.

On the backstretch, Nells Bells regained the lead and she reached the half-mile marker in :56³, and when she entered the stretch after having passed the three-quarter pole in 1:26³, it seemed as though she would be going on to post her third straight win.

Nells Bells held a one length advantage over Graceous Interlude, who had been in second for much of the last half-mile, but from the back of the pack Kieanna’s Angel kicked it into high gear and pulled off a stunning victory, by one length over Princess Justice and driver Peter Wrenn, who had also rallied late and finished second. Nells Bells was shuffled back and finished third.

Kieanna’s Angel returned $27.40, $17.60, and $7.40 for the victory. The 4-year-old daughter of Personal Power is two for three this year at Hoosier Park. The brown mare is owned and trained by Alvin Walther of Lanesville, Ind.

The win sent Kieanna’s Angel’s career earnings to over $30,000.