by Mike Wandishin, for Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — Indiana Downs was the site of a speed explosion over the weekend as records fell repeatedly.

On a Saturday night card that averaged just under 1:53 for the night’s races, seven lifetime marks were set and, in addition, two horses set their seasonal marks.

This was just a warmup to Sunday’s action as both all-age track records were broken, among the five lifetime marks set that day. In addition, two horses set their seasonal marks.

In Sunday’s sixth race, Big Boy Josh (Charlie Conrad) made an early move to secure position, yielded for a trip, then angled out in the stretch to follow the surging Will Sikes. In the deep stretch Big Boy Josh found enough left to get by a game Will Sikes (Brooke Nickells) to set a new all-age track trotting record of 1:54⁴.

Big Boy Josh is owned by Charles E. Conrad of Corydon, Indiana, and trained by his driver Charlie Conrad. The win was Josh’s fourth of the season and he’s now two for two since adding salix. Big Boy Josh was Indiana’s divisional champion as a three-year-old and also set a personal lifetime speed return with the score. The fractions were :28, :56⁴ and 1:25³. Will Sikes stayed for second, three-quarters of a length back.

In the ninth race, Cog Hill made a big move to grab the lead approaching the half, shook off a determined challenge from High Voltage Henry on the far turn and absolutely destroyed the field while setting a new all-age track record for the pace of 1:50⁴.

Walter Haynes, Jr. let Cog Hill slide up the rail, from the starting 10 post, to get away fifth through a quarter of :27. As the field began to settle near the three-eighths, Cog Hill exploded to the outside and challenged Handyman Hank (Willie Schwartz) through a half mile in :54³. Cog Hill disposed of that one and was immediately under the gun as driver Josh Sutton and High Voltage Henry had followed his move and were applying the pressure. These two hit the three-quarters in 1:22². As the top two turned for home, Cog Hill found another gear and left these for dead, winning in a time of 1:50⁴. Three Quarter Cam split horses to gain the place and Rodeo Punch closed well to best the rest for show.

Cog Hill is owned by Alan and Gene Riegle, in partnership with Alan White and Tom Crouch. He is yet another successful son of Electric Yankee and has been driven exclusively by Walter Haynes, Jr. lately.

Drivers Johnny Shoffner, Andy Shetler and Jay Cross recorded doubles on the matinee card.

Saturday evening, the weekly Invitational was won by Street Sign in 1:51⁴. Driver Ricky Macomber, Jr. let this one settle next to last off sizzling early fractions of :26⁴ and :54² put up by favored Silver D Moon (Jay Cross) and Bayside Hall (Todd Warren). As the field entered the far turn Street Sign had begun to close in and was sixth, but only four and a half lengths from the lead. Silver D Moon still had the lead, with Bayside Hall in the pocket, as the teletimer read 1:23² for three-quarters of the mile, but Street Sign had found his best stride and mowed them down with an individual final quarter of :27³. Bayside Hall was solid late and second by a neck, while Silver D Moon held his ground well and saved the show.

The winner is owned by J & J Como Jr. Inc of Towaco, New Jersey and trained by Peter Foley. The win was Street Sign’s fourth of the season.

Driver Don Irvine, Jr. had a big Saturday night winning four races, while Todd Warren had three winners and a second. In fact, Irvine and Warren split the first six winners on the card evenly. Ricky Macomber drove two winners on the card and also had two place finishes.

Three divisions of the first leg of the Genesis Series, for two-year-old filly pacers, are the highlights of a 10 race card at Indiana Downs on Wednesday evening. Each division of the Genesis Series goes to post for an $8,000 purse.

In the second race, the first division of the Genesis, Marks-Mindy is the morning line favorite on the basis of a solid closing score in her debut last week. Joe Putnam will once again be behind the Mark Jonathan sired filly and starts from the second tier, post 10.

An interesting filly in the race is Trymenow Bluegrass, sired by Dorunrun Bluegrass out of a Bert Hanover mare. This one has already faced the starter five times in her career, four on the Kentucky Fair Circuit and once last week at Indiana Downs. She tried to sweep the field with a big move last week but flattened out for driver Dan Shelter. John Merkel conditions this one.

The second division goes postward in the fourth race and Chello’s Sin D is the early choice. Last week driver Joe Essig, Jr. sent this one down the road through quick fractions and they paid the price late, finishing fourth. This week Chello’s Sin D has drawn the wood for trainer Joe Essig, Jr. and will once again be near the pace.

I Am A Bunny is another that appears to have plenty of potential for driver-trainer Charlie Conrad. Last week this one ended up uncovered in Ohio Sires Stakes action and didn’t tire that badly considering.

The eighth race is the final division of the Genesis and Tinivizion, trained by Dan Purdue and driven by Don Irvine, Jr., is the early favorite after destroying Indiana Sires Stakes company last week with a wire-to-wire score.

My Awesome Babe is another that has plenty of potential as this one has twice placed in Ohio Sires Stakes action at Northfield Park. Joe Essig, Jr., drives for trainer Gary Green.

Trainer Wilbur Eash sends out a pair of well-bred fillies here and Iva Miracle, Mark O’Mara driving, put in a huge try last week in Indiana Sires Stakes action. Lady Intern, Rick Macomber, Jr. in the bike, debuts off two impressive qualifiers.

First post is 6:55 p.m.