Hi Ho Molly And Mayflower’s Song are fantastic fillies in Sires Stakes
May 21, 2004,by Valerie Ray, Publicity Department, Hoosier Park
Hi Ho Molly captured the first division of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old fillies Friday, May 21, collecting a purse of $12,000. The duo paced home in 1:52.0, a new Sires Stakes record!
“The race went far better than I expected. I was looking for Bluebird Wanda to come up for the lead, but she never did,” said Irvine. “I never expected to go in 1:52.”
JJ’s Pilgrim and Joe Essig Jr. were leading the race until the quarter where Hi Ho Molly made her move from the outside.
Irvine noted that he typically likes to race Hi Ho Molly off the pace, but had no choice other than to race her up front as the filly got up on the bit.
“She’s a little rank to drive. You definitely have to watch her in the turns. I’d rather not race her up front,” Irvine said. “I try to protect her by racing her off the pace.”
Hi Ho Molly extended her lead by seven and a quarter lengths before coasting to victory.
Hi Ho Molly paid $5.40, $2.40, and $2.20 across the board. It was the second win of the season for the daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s.
Hi Ho Molly is co-owned by Alan M. Kirschenbaum of California and Steven L. Katz of Kentucky. Kirschenbaum produces the T.V. show, “Yes Dear.” Ernie Gaskin trains the filly.
Bluebird Wanda and Ricky Macomber Jr. came home second. Ragin Rachael and Jay Cross held on to the third place finish.
Mayflower’s Song sang a winning tune, taking first place honors in the second division of the ISS. The filly is driven, trained, and owned by Don Eash.
Mayflower’s Song had the lead until the half. Indy Dawn and Ricky Macomber Jr. followed closely behind. At the half, however, the lead was surrendered to race favorite, Friseur Bluegrass with Irvine Jr. in the sulky.
Eash saw his advantage becoming clearer at the top of the stretch.
“Friseur Bluegrass was directly in front of me. I could see she was getting weak at the three-quarter pole, so I figured all my filly had to do was make it home,” Eash said.
However, Eash was a little concerned with making it home with Mayflower’s Song.
“She gets weak at the end, but she managed to pull through for me,” said Eash.
Mayflower’s Song paced home in 1:53.4. The daughter of Pilgrims Punch paid $9.80, $4.40, and $2.10 for the win.
Townline Lily with Essig Jr. claimed second place. Friseur Bluegrass nabbed the third place finish.
Top pacing fillies will return to compete in the estimated $80,000 ISS Final. The final has been set for Hoosier Cup Night, Saturday, May 29. Total purses during the special event are a cool $1 million!
Puss And Boots on the prowlPuss And Boots was on the prowl after taking the lead at the half-mile pole and won the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational on Friday at Hoosier Park. With driver Brett Miller, who currently sits in second place in the driver standings both at Hoosier Park and on the continent, brought the Western Hanover mare back into form after she had taken a three week break.
“This mare (Puss And Boots) is really getting sharper every start she has,” said Miller. “She is a real big horse.”
Miller received a good beginning from Puss And Boots. However, it was Secret Dial and trainer-driver Don Eash who made the first bid for the lead as they headed into the clubhouse turn. After all horses followed single-file into the turn, Secret Dial began to open up her lead after going a swift :271 to the quarter pole.
Going onto the backstretch, Secret Dial held her ground and led by more than three lengths. Coming up on her heels was Puss And Boots and Miller, and the they went directly to the lead and flew past the half-mile pole in :553.
“I had no choice but to go to the front,” said Miller. “The plan was to get up behind Are Those Real. After I saw that was not a possibility, I changed ideas. I wasn’t worried about being on the lead. I knew we had a lot left.”
Making their way into the final turn, Puss And Boots along with Are Those Real and Jeff Cullipher continued to duke it out until the top of the stretch. In the final stages of the race, Puss And Boots opened up with an advantage of one and one-half lengths over the rest of the field. The lead continued to grow even more at the 15-16 pole. From there, Puss And Boots won by two and three-quarter lengths, and paced a lifetime best 1:522. She beat her old mark by one-fifth of a second.
Puss And Boots returned $8.80, $3.80, and $3.80 for the victory. The 4-year-old is owned by Barnett Zimmerman, LLC. of Deerfield, Ill. The victory was the second of the year in eight starts for the Virgil Morgan, Jr. and Miller duo. The brown mare has now banked over $70,000 in her career.
Secret Dial and Eash fought back gamely on the inside and got up for second place. After trailing the field at the start of the race, Valley Electric and driver Jay Cross made a late surge for the wire and finished third.