Anderson, IN — Sophomore trotters took center stage on Friday (May 17), at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a pair of $25,000 series finals highlighting the 14-race card. Agent Of Fortune completed a clean sweep of the Msnaughtybynature series, while Helpem Dance shook loose late claim the Expresson each for non-winners of two trotters.

Agent Of Fortune completes a series sweep of the Msnaughtybynature to stay perfect in 2024. Dean Gillette Photo.

The Msnaughtybynature for the fillies served as the eighth race on the card, with Agent Of Fortune sent off as the 1-5 favorite from post four. Driver Robert Taylor settled in the third position off the gate while Ponda Aesthetic (Jordan Ross) worked hard to clear Swan So Fine (Marvin Luna) for the lead just beyond the first quarter of :28.2. Taylor gave Agent Of Fortune her cue on the backstretch to quickly take command of the field before reaching the halfway point in :57.1. Agent Of Fortune began to separate herself from the field on the final turn, stretching her lead to 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:26, while Swan So Fine ranged first-over into second.

Turning for home, Swan So Fine utilized her momentum to reach the leader’s wheel at the top of the stretch, but Agent Of Fortune dug in gamely to rebuff the challenge. Trotting home in :27.4, Agent Of Fortune reasserted her lead back out to two lengths on the wire over Swan So Fine to score in a lifetime best 1:53.4, Kanita and Atlee Bender would round out the trifecta.

Taylor also does the training of Agent Of Fortune who is now perfect through four starts in 2024. Owned by Taylor Racing LLC and Bert Paddock, the daughter of Dover Dan-Posterity surged into six-figures in career earnings, having now banked $109,700. The victory was one of two training wins on the evening for Taylor, who teamed up with Jordan Ross to score in the $22,000 Open Pace with Crooked Smile in 1:49.3 later on the card.

Helpem Dance used off the pace tactics to take the Expresson final in just his second start of his three-year-old season. Leaving from post six, driver Ricky Macomber Jr. took back in the early-stages while Hudson Swan (Ross) protected the rail position to lead to the quarter in :27.1. Bear’s The One (Taylor) pushed to the lead and took charge to the half in :57 while Water Torpedo (Mike Oosting) assumed command of the outer-flow. Bear’s The One continued to lead as the field entered the final turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:26.3 as Helpem Dance shook off the rail from sixth with five-lengths to make up turning for home.

In the stretch, Helpem Dance swung wide and began to pick up steam, exploding home with a :27.1 final quarter and power to the lead. Helpem Dance crossed the wire 2-1/4 lengths clear to stop the timer in a career best 1:54.4. Hudson Swan rallied up the passing lane to finish second, with First Option (Dan Shetler) closing for third. Helpem Dance returned $7.00 to his backers at the betting windows.

Trained by Jamie Macomber, the victory was the second in the career of Helpem Dance through eight lifetime starts. The gelded son of Helpisontheway-Serena’s Serenade is owned by Doug Overhiser and vaulted his career earnings to $33,030 with the win.  

Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday (May 18), with a special first post of 7:20 p.m. due to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The 12-race Hoosier Park card features the $25,000 series finals of both the Go On BB and Hal Dale which serve as races seven and nine respectively.

For more information on the 2024 live racing season, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.