from Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — Homebred Creme De Cocoa and trainer/driver D.R. Ackerman gutted out a narrow victory in the $161,800 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake for freshman filly trotters on Wednesday, August 25, at Indiana Downs.

The Chocolatier-Judge Judy 2-year-old slugged it out with Angelette Hanover and Brian Sears in the stretch before reaching the wire a neck in front in 1:57.2. Tawesome More and Andy Miller finished a length back in third. The event served as the feature on a card offering nearly $670,000 in purses.

“That was a fight right to the finish,” Ackerman commented afterward. “We just would up in front at the wire.”

Starting from post six in the field of 10, Creme De Cocoa left the gate third as Win Doctor and Peter Wrenn led the field through a :28 opening panel. Sears moved Angelette Hanover, part of the favored three-horse Trond Smedshammer entry, from second up the backside, taking command before reaching the half in :58.4.

Ackerman would abandon the rail racing to the turn, advancing first over through a 1:29 third quarter and was poised to strike at the top of the stretch. The two fillies engaged in an extended duel through the lane, with Creme De Cocoa gaining the advantage in the final strides.

“We’ve been fighting her every week. She’s a very good horse,” Ackerman said of Angelette Hanover. “I thought moving first over was okay. I wasn’t sure if I’d get there, but I knew my filly would fight all the way to the wire.”

Bred and owned by Doug Ackerman Stables Inc., Creme De Cocoa collected her second seasonal win in six starts. Second to Thatsnotmyname in the $437,000 Merrie Annabelle, the filly took a new mark with the victory. She now possesses $230,910 in earnings.

Indiana-sired Dream Kid turned in a dominant performance in the $50,000 Circle City for freshman colt trotters Wednesday night. The Cincinnati Kid-Kandy Angus colt, driven by Ricky Macomber, wired the field in 1:59.3. The Ron Burke-trained 2-year-old, sent off as the 1-5 favorite, finished 1-1/4 lengths in front of Wrenn and Ax Man, with Prison Guard and Jim Dailey finishing third.

Leaving from the rail in the field of six, Dream Kid clicked off fractions of :30, 1:00.1 and 1:30.1 before cruising to his fourth victory in six starts. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and Frank Baldachino, the colt has already accumulated $83,337 in earnings.

“He’s just getting better and more mature each start,” explained Macomber. “He’s big; he just covers so much ground and he doesn’t act like he has to put effort into it.”

The Shelbyville track also played host to 11 Indiana Sires Stakes contests, with each division offering a $40,000 purse. Wrenn’s tandem of Msnaughtybynature and Earl’s Glider kept their perfect streaks intact with key victories, and the Steve Carter-trained Dark Alley Sally picked up her ninth consecutive triumph.

Heavy favorite Msnaughtybynature moved from second after the quarter and never relinquished, winning her ISS division for sophomore filly trotters in 1:57.4. The victory was the eighth of the season for the 1-9 favorite. The Scramble Ranger filly is owned by Melanie Wrenn and The Kales Company.

ABC Garland filly Yankee Garland picked up the second division with a 2:02 clocking while favored Deborah Maroon kept a nose in front in her split to win in 2:00.4.

Like Msnaughtybynature, 3-year-old gelding Earl’s Glider cruised to a 1:59 score in ISS action for male trotters. Dan Courtemanche and Tom Courtemanche own the sophomore in partnership with Melanie Wrenn. Earl’s Glider wired the field to add his ninth win in as many starts this season.

Favored Dakota’s Final won the other $40,000 split in a time of 1:58.2.

Judges could not separate Dark Alley Sally and Twotwentypower in a $40,000 ISS tilt for 3-year-old filly pacers, resulting in a dead heat victory for both. For Dark Alley Sally, sent off as the 1-9 favorite, the win marked the ninth consecutive trip to the winner’s circle. Electric Yankee sophomore Twotwentypower, a recent addition to the Burke Stable, knocked a second off her lifetime best with the 1:54.1 effort.

Burke entries Circle Of Trust and Lets Go B B swept the top two spots in the second division. Sears drove the Third Straight filly, winless in 17 previous starts, to a 1:55 clocking.

The Burke Stable continued to roll as Lost Jewels notched a 1:54.2 victory in the opening $40,000 Indiana Sires Stakes split for 2-year-old colt pacers. The Royal Art gelding was piloted by Macomber.

Panspacificflight gelding Flight Elel earned his third seasonal score with a 1:54.3 mile in the second division. Andy Miller steered the freshman for Dailey. Matt’s Date (Mattnamaras Band) secured the third split, nosing out Knockout Art in a time of 1:56.1. Second choice GD Airliner (Panspacificflight) and Marcus Miller grabbed the win with a 1:55.2 performance in the final division.