from Indiana Downs
Shelbyville, IN — Dontfusswithruss established a new standard for freshman gelding trotters on Wednesday (Oct. 5) at Indiana Downs.
The son of Elegant Man-Ml Jezebel, competing in the second round of Indiana Sires Stakes action, shaved four-fifths of a second off the track record with a 1:57 performance. Driven by Joe Essig, Jr., Dontfusswithruss defeated pacesetter and favorite Trottin Tiger by 2-3/4 lengths.
Drawing post nine for trainer Roger Cullipher, Essig and Dontfusswithruss got away fourth as Trottin Tiger and Sam Widger clicked off fractions of :29.2, :58.2 and 1:28. Grabbing cover behind My Muscleman and Josh Sutton racing into the turn, Dontfusswithruss reeled in and put away the favorite with a :28.3 final panel. Owned and bred by Jacalyn Beeman, the gelding has earned $96,810 this season.
Since finishing fifth in the $200,000 final in September, Dontfusswithruss has won two consecutive Indiana Sires Stakes starts. The previous track record of 1:57.4 was set by Dakota’s Reason in October 2003.
Two other $40,000 Indiana Sires Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt trotters were offered Wednesday evening. Favored Velten San Siro and Dave Magee took control in the stretch and trotted to a quarter-length victory in a time of 1:59.3. Dc Chug-a-lug followed in second, with Rendezvous Kid third. Trained by Ora Miller for owner Bernard Johnston, the Kilimanjaromontana-Zelzvska Ans colt has won three of nine starts, with earnings of $80,453.
Sent off at 20-1, Irish Express and driver Marlin Fry held off 40-1 Elian’s Boy, driven by Peter Wrenn, by a neck in 2:00.2. Summit City Earl and Jason Dillander raced third. Owned and trained by Fry, the Semper Fi Hall-Just Watch gelding took a new mark in victory, his first on the pari-mutuel circuit. It was the third Indiana Sires Stakes start for Irish Express.