from Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — Indiana Downs hosted the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes competition for sophomore filly trotters on Thursday (July 28). Two $40,000 preliminary legs were offered, with the favorite in each contest suffering defeat. Bar Nancy earned a 1:56.4 victory in the first division, while Jazzi Jo claimed a 1:57.1 score in the other split.

Finishing fifth in the $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final at Hoosier Park, Bar Nancy rebounded to collect her second seasonal win Thursday night, lowering her mark in the process. Driven by Ricky Macomber, Jr. for trainer Ron Burke, the Above The Bar filly raced near the front from post two as Barn Lady and favorite Lakeview Fest traded places on the lead through fractions of :28.2 and :58.

Macomber moved the sophomore first over racing to the three-quarters (1:28.1) before closing out the mile with a :28.2 last quarter, winning by 3-1/4 lengths. Lakeview Fest finished second for trainer Dan Shetler while Bar Lady and Peter Wrenn were third.

The filly is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Hickory Hollow Stables. The victory was the sixth of Bar Nancy’s career, pushing her earnings to $112,494.

In the second $40,000 leg, Jazzi Jo and Sam Widger overtook favorite Skyway Priss in the lane to win by nearly two lengths in 1:57.1. Starting from the rail the Keystone Savage 3-year-old got away third but moved to the lead for Widger before the half (:58.4). Skyway Priss and Wrenn would quickly shuffle the duo to second, leading the field into the stretch. There, Jazzi Jo trotted home in :29.1 to earn her first seasonal win. Beware Angle, sent off at 67-1, finished third.

Jazzi Jo is owned by Byron Hooley’s Summit Pacing Acres. Hooley trains the filly bred by Larry and Kim Owen. Prior to the win, Jazzi Jo had recorded five second-place finishes, including a runner-up spot in the $200,000 final earlier this month.

The Shelbyville track also offered a $10,400 contest for Indiana-sired freshman filly trotters. Cincinnati Kid filly She’s Country, second choice in the field of 10, led gate-to-wire in a time of 2:00.4. Charlie Conrad trains the 2-year-old, which he guided to her third win in six starts. She’s Country is owned by Roselea Conrad and Sarah Conrad.