Anderson, IN — A pair of $25,000 Series Finals highlighted a rain-soaked and weather plagued Friday (May 16) night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with Classical Jane and On To Norway delivering dominant performances as heavy favorites in each. Later on the card, 2024 Breeders Crown champion Coach Stefanos scored his first victory of the year in the $22,000 Open Pace.
The Msnaughtybynature for Indiana Sired trotting fillies and mares who are non-winers of two or $25,000 lifetime as of March 15 saw 2024 ISS Super Final runner-up in the rookie filly trot, Classical Jane, sent off at 3-5 with Trace Tetrick in the bike.
Leaving from post five, Tetrick hustled Classical Jane off the wings of the gate, getting away second on the first turn as second-choice Swan Jewel (Marcus Miller) powered to the lead from the outside to cut the quarter in :28.1. 47-1 shot Rollin Explosion (Peter Wrenn) was unable to find a seat on the first turn, moving to the lead before Tetrick moved Classical Jane to the top on the backstretch en route to the half in :57.1. Classical Jane began to assert herself on the final turn, opening up by 2-1/2 lengths to three-quarters in 1:26.2.
The lead would only grow for Classical Jane in the lane, widening the margin to 7-1/4 lengths in a romp to score in a career best 1:54.3. 96-1 shot Mclady Of Hearts (Kiwon Waldron) rallied for second, while Swan Jewel skimmed the cones to be third after traffic troubles in the final 3/8 of a mile.
The victory was the second in three tries at age three, and fourth of the career for the Henry Graber Jr. trained Classical Jane. The daughter of Swan For All-Class Angel was bred by Steven Mast and now sports a career bankroll of $148,095 for owners Hillside Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC, and Backroad Stable.
In the male counterpart, On To Norway notched his fifth straight score as the 1-20 favorite in the Expresson Final with driver John De Long.
The complexion of the race changed early as Ponda Rocky (Atlee Bender), who was also looking for the series sweep, jumped it off behind the gate as the second choice. De Long positioned On To Norway third on the first turn, as 38-1 shot Urgent Matters (Mike Oosting) trotted to the top through a quarter of :28. De Long right-lined the favorite on the backstretch, working his way to the top at the half in :57.3 before powering clear by 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:26.4.
Turning for home, the race was for place as On To Norway and a motionless De Long trotted clear by 3-1/2 lengths midway through the lane. Tarzan (Marcus Miller) would uncork a :27.1 late rally to close the gap to two on the wire, but it would be On To Norway who scored easily in 1:54.4. Urgent Matters held sway for the third position.
A winner in five of six in 2025 and unbeaten since joining the Ron Burke barn on April 17, On To Norway has won nine of 15 in his career. The gelded three-year-old son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino and Black & White Stable and has earned $67,962 lifetime.
In addition to the Series Finals, a stout field of seven took to the track in the $22,000 Open Pace with 2024 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion, Coach Stefanos, scoring his fist victory of his five-year-old campaign.
Due to a trio of scratches, Coach Stefanos left from post five with driver Marcus Miller, settling in fourth as Low Rider (Marvin Luna) raced to the top through a quarter of :27.4. Riding a three-race win streak at the top level, Low Rider continued to lead to the half in :55.2 when Coach Stefanos went on the offensive first-over. Coach Stefanos moved into second on the far turn, racing at the leader’s wheel as 1-5 favorite Little Rocket Man (Mike Oosting) was chased along to catch cover from second-over at three-quarters in 1:22.2.
Coach Stefanos powered alongside Low Rider at the top of the stretch, grabbing a short lead at the 1/8 pole while Gorgeous Big Guy (Trace Tetrick) and Little Rocket Man pursued the lead duo. Surging with a :27 final quarter into a headwind, Coach Stefanos paced away by 1-1/4 lengths in deep stretch to score in 1:49.4 in the slop.
Trained by Erv Miller, Coach Stefanos is a 19-time career winner with just shy of $1.3 million in career earnings for owners Kenneth Duffy, D&M Trading Ii LLC, and John Stefanos.
Trace Tetrick led the card with five winners while John De Long had a triple and Marcus miller with a double on the Friday night card. Tyler George led trainers with three wins while Ron Burke scored two victories.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, May 17 with a 12-race card slated to begin at 6:15 p.m. The Saturday card will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 from 8-11 p.m., with VP and GM of Racing Gabe Prewitt handling broadcasting duties. The Saturday card is highlighted by $25,000 Finals for the Go On BB and Hal Dale for Sophomore Pacers, in addition to an Open Trot with track record holder Ponda Jet seeking his fifth straight victory at the top level.
The Saturday card will also feature $7,500 guaranteed pools in the Early Pick 5 (races 1-5) and Late Hoosier High 5 (race 12). Free online programs are available on the Hoosier Park website.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.