from Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — Favorites carried the day in the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for 2-year-old colt trotters on Friday (August 5) at Indiana Downs. Led by Trottin Tiger, a 1:58.2 winner, favorites claimed three of four $40,000 divisions.

One week after setting a national season’s mark, Trottin Tiger and Sam Widger returned to the winner’s circle Friday for their second seasonal win. Starting from post six, Widger moved the Mossy Oak-Capryz Kelvin gelding to the front, clicking off fractions of :29.4, 1:00.2 and 1:29.3 before closing out the mile with a :28.4 last quarter. The Mark Gillenwater-trained freshman finished 2-1/2 lengths in front of My Muscleman. Earls Big Punch raced third. Trottin Tiger is owned by Gillenwater and Kevin Mc Kinney.

Favored Whoabama Bluegrass and driver Mark O’Mara received every call en route to a 1:59.2 score in the night’s first division. Trained by Ronnie Guhy for Dr. Luel Overstreet, the ABC Garland-Wesgate Imagery gelding collected his first career victory by three parts of a length. Dontfusswithruss followed in second while Rendezvous Kid trotted third.

Widger picked up another ISS victory by guiding Summit City Earl to a 2:02.2 score. Sent off as the favorite, the Earl Of Stormont-Stone Cold Fox gelding held off Elian’s Boy by three-quarters of a length followed by Onepointeightsix, a distant third. Summit City Earl, now a four-time winner in eight starts, is owned by Byron Hooley’s Summit Pacing Acres. Hooley trains the freshman.

Wayland Ivy and Josh Sutton, sent off at 27-1 odds, upset the field in the last $40,000 division of the night, winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Mr Balboa (45-1) and What Ideal (9-1) followed in second and third to trigger big payouts. Wayland Ivy paid $55.80 to win. The exacta returned $1,004.60. Trained by Jeff Brewer, the CJ’s Secret-Wolf’s Tamara gelding is owned by Acl Stuteri Ab. The victory was the first career win for Wayland Ivy.