by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a stakes filled card on Wednesday (July 15) with three divisions of 3-year-old trotting fillies and three divisions of 2-year-old trotting colts battling it out in Indiana Sires Stakes elimination action.

It was the second of the elimination rounds for the 2-year-old competitors and the third round for the sophomores. After the dust settled on the evening’s 14-race card, the track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies was re-established.

Linscott Photography

Churita established a new track record at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Indiana Sires Stakes action.

Churita, with regular pilot Trace Tetrick at the lines, became Hoosier Park’s newest track record holder when she powered home a winner in 1:54 in the opening division of Indiana Sires Stakes elimination action for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Churita used a determined gate-to-wire effort to score her sixth win of the season and remain undefeated in 2015. The previous track record of 1:54.2 was established by Lady Blitz and Verlin Yoder in August 2013.

Leaving from post five in a field of nine, Churita dictated fractions of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:25.4 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Hannelore Hanover and Ricky Macomber Jr. made a bid at the leader late in the lane but Churita was too strong on the front. Using a :28.1 final panel, Churita cruised home to a two length victory. Hannelore Hanover finished second with Diamond Dagger and Mark O’Mara rounding out the trifecta.

Trained by Matt Rheinheimer, Churita has now won 13 of 15 lifetime starts and sports a career bankroll of $364,550. The daughter of Airzoom Lindy-Stonebridge Volare was crowned Indiana’s 2-year-old trotting filly of the year and is owned by Jackie Porter.

Tyler Smith captured the other two divisions of the stakes action for 3-year-old trotting fillies, winning first with Golden Big Stick in 1:57.1. Golden Big Stick used a perfectly timed rally late in the lane to score her second win of the season in a lifetime best effort. Trained by Mike Hollenback, the daughter of Big Stick Lindy-Golda Plumsted has now won five of 18 lifetime outings for her owners, Mike Hollenback and William Cantrell.

Smith came back in the very next division to pull a slight upset with Hermosa, scoring in 1:56. Using a :27 last quarter, the daughter of Here Comes Herbie-Vals Little Wench scored her maiden breaking victory. Owned by Rags to Riches of Pa LLC, Hermosa has now earned $33,183 lifetime.

All of the evening’s elimination winners successfully earned a spot in the next round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals, slated for July 22 at Hoosier Park. Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (July 16) with three $20,000 divisions of the 2-year-old pacing colts and three divisions for the 3-year-old trotting colts.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday live racing schedule with a daily post time of 5:15 p.m.