by Ryan Hubbard, publicity department, Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — After being chosen to drive a 19-1 longshot on the board due to a late change, Joshua Sutton stepped up. He captured the first division of the $12,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings with Depeche Bluegrass on Saturday, March 27 at Hoosier Park.

Sutton previously drove Depeche Bluegrass earlier this month in a qualifying attempt at Hoosier Park, finishing second. The Mark Johnathan gelding raced opening night March 21 and finished second.

“The only thing I did differently other than the qualifier was I told him (Depeche Bluegrass) to move,” said Sutton. “I like this horse a lot. I was here at Hoosier Park three years ago, and it is great to be back.”

Depeche Bluegrass moved from the back and got into position down the stretch to win the first leg of the Sires Stakes in a time of 1:54³, which beats his lifetime best by five seconds. This was the three-year-old’s first win of 2004. John Merkel trains Depeche Bluegrass. Dr. Luel Overstreet of Henderson, Kentucky is the owner.

Depeche Bluegrass paid $40.20, $13.20, and $10.40 for the victory. MJs Right Hand Man and driver Jay Cross finished second. Don Eash drove Canuseeme Bow to a third place finish.

Sutton scored his first ever Hoosier Park driving double with his second win of the night, recorded in the fifth race with Glenview Fritz. The seven-year-old gelding won his fourth race in 10 starts this season. The Earth Invasion son came off the top of the stretch in sixth place, flying by the rest of the field in 1:55. Glenview Fritz set his lifetime mark of 1:54³ at Hoosier Park as a three-year-old.

Glenview Fritz paid $9.80, $5.40, and $4.60 for the win. Finishing second was County Danegal and Tom Luther. Wooluff, with driver Kyle Ater, finished third.

Macomber comes out swingin in Open

Ricky Macomber and Swingin Glory made a bold statement early in the $13,000 Open Pace on Saturday. The duo left the starting gate for the top spot and proved they would not give up without a fight to the finish.

Swingin Glory established early fractions of :26 and :55 as Spastic and Matt Lambert sat alongside. Around the final turn, other opponents began to make their intentions known to unseat Swingin Glory. Northern J and Jimmy Whisman sat right on Swinging Glory’s back the entire way and found just what they wanted in the stretch — racing room.

Northern J came out of the hole strong and got by Swingin Glory for a few strides before the veteran pacer found another gear to come back for the win. A winner by a little more than a length, Swingin Glory stopped the timer in 1:50³, his fastest win time in the past two years. Northern J was solid for second over Cambest Prince and Brett Miller, who had to travel around tiring horses in the final turn before moving up to third.

“He’s a class old horse,” said trainer Brian Hauck. “He can either leave, or he can sit in a hole. He’s ten-years-old, and he knows what to do. Last week, he had to make a big move into the wind, and it just took too much out of him. We thought he’d be a lot better tonight.”

Swingin Glory now has more than $680,000 in career earnings. The ten-year-old is owned Sylvia Burke and Lawrence Kerr of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively. He holds a lifetime mark of 1:49⁴ taken at the age of seven at The Meadowlands.