by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino highlighted the 21st season of live harness racing with the annual Hoosier Champions night in front of a packed house on Saturday (June 7).

Four Indiana Sires Stakes champions were crowned on the evening that featured the first of five rounds of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals on the 14-race card. It was a night ruled by favorites as the publics’ choice delivered in each of the four divisions.

Linscott Photography

Andi’s Alana scored in 1:56 in the final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

The action-packed night opened with the first $75,000 final for 3-year-old trotting fillies and Andi’s Alana looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favorite as she overcame a tough, first-over bid to score in 1:56. Driven by LeWayne Miller, Andi’s Alana was uninvolved early in the race but used a :28.2 final quarter to score her 11th career victory and remain undefeated in 2014.

“She came back really great this year,” Miller noted after the race. “She had a great season last year but has grown up in a lot of ways this year. I wasn’t sure how the race was going to work out but she raced great, again.”

Trained by Erv Miller, Andi’s Alana has now won 11 of 15 lifetime starts and sports a career bankroll of $379,849 with three Indiana Sires Stakes finals to her credit. The daughter of Swan For All-Its Your Deal has won all three of her starts at three and is owned by Paymaq Racing, Greg Gillis, and Harvey Eisman.

Following suit, Candy’s A Virgin and Trace Tetrick delivered as the 7-5 favorite after a sharp, front running effort in 1:52 in the 3-year-old pacing fillies division. Tetrick sent Candy’s A Virgin away from the gate firing and she dictated fractions of :28.4, :57 and 1:25.1 before ever feeling a threat. As the field turned for home, Tetrick asked his mount for more and she responded with a :26.4 final panel to win by three lengths.

Owned by Emerald Highland Farms, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Candemonium notched her second win in four seasonal starts while sending her bankroll over $139,000. Trained by Brian Brown, the homebred filly has now won four of 12 lifetime outings.

Fresh off a win in the Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations, Rose Run Parker was able to overcome the outside post nine to trot home a winner in 1:54.4 in the 3-year-old trotting colt division and extended his winning streak to eight in the process. Guided by regular driver Ricky Macomber Jr., Rose Run Parker was unable to find a spot along the rail in the early stages of the race and pressed on for the lead. Sandy Z Tam and Brad Hanners left alertly from post two and dictated fractions of :28.1 and :57.3.

Forced to go three-wide approaching the final turn, Rose Run Parker was able to reach the leader’s wheel at the third station in 1:25.4 before trotting away from the field to win by a length.

“The trip didn’t work out how I wanted it to tonight,” Macomber noted after the race. “Obviously post nine didn’t help, but he was able to overcome it. I pulled the earplugs down the lane and he took off again. He’s really sharp right now.”

Trained by Ron Burke, the gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse-Centergy scored his third seasonal victory and remains undefeated at three. The 12-time career winner has now amassed $284,875 for his connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and W. Haas Jr.

Bluehourpower did not disappoint as the 6-5 favorite in the 3-year-old pacing colt division as he coasted home a winner in 1:50.3, a lifetime best performance. Driven by Sam Widger, Bluehourpower was uninvolved in the early stages of the race while Mike Peterson and Sling Shot Shooter set fractions of :27 and :54.4. As the field approached the final turn, Sling Shot Shooter appeared to be up to the task, but Bluehourpower was perfectly placed second-over. Using a :26.3 last quarter, Bluehourpower powered home to win finish two lengths to the good.

Trained and owned by Wilbur Eash, Bluehourpower has now won six of 13 lifetime starts and remains undefeated at three. The son of Sand Shooter-Blue Hour has now amassed $282,344 and three Indiana Sires Stakes finals to his credit.