(Editor’s Note: Full stories to come)
Carl Erskine Memorial – Big Ranger
Big Ranger, driven by Tim Tetrick was the winner of the $200,000 Grade 2 Carl Erskine Memorial Friday night (Oct. 30) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Captain Naughty (driven by Jordan Ross) led the field through fractions of :27.2 and :56.2 before Big Ranger took control at the three-quarters in 1:25. The 3-year-old son of In Range-Big Blue Bird, trained by Annette Lorentzon, won by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2 and paid $2.10. AI (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finished second and Twin B Seven Sins (Kyle Husted) was third. Big Ranger is owned by Madison Global.
The Crossroads of America – Fresh Face Yankee
Driver-trainer Jay Cross guided Fresh Face Ranger from seventh, 8-1/2 lengths behind, at the quarter, and sixth at the half and three-quarters with a charge from fifth place at the top of the stretch to edge For Dayze (John De Long) by a neck at the finish of the $140,000 Grade 3 The Crossroads of America. Fresh Face Yankee clocked a :26.4 last quarter to stop the timer in 1:52.4. Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) was third. The 12-1 fourth choice in the betting paid $27.40 to win. The 3-year-old daughter of Crescent Fashion-Swan Yankee is owned by Timothy Smith.
The USS Indianapolis Memorial – Loua Dipa
Second choice Loua Dipa and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. overtook the leader and favorite She’s A Bulldog (Yannick Gingras) in the stretch to capture the $125,000 Grade 3 The USS Indianapolis Memorial in 1:49. Loua Dipa led the field to a :25.4 first quarter before conceding the lead to She’s A Bulldog through the half in :55.1 and three quarters in 1:22.3. Loua Dipa finished with a :26 last quarter to win by two lengths over the favorite. Somemore Blue (Marcus Miller) was third. The 3-year-old filly by Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper is trained by Ron Burke, who is the owner with Weaver-Bruscemi LLC. She paid $5 to win.
The Monument Circle – Al Papi
After starting from post 10 in the second tier and being raced wide through the half and three quarters, favorite Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) took the lead at the head of the stretch from Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) then held off that rival to win by a neck in 1:47.4 in the $160,000 Grade 2 The Monument Circle. Trained by Ron Burke, who owns the 3-year-old son of Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy with J&T Sliva-Purnell & Libby, Lawrence Karr and Weaver-Bruscemi LLC, Al Papi paid $4.40 to win. Swiss Lights finished third.