from Indiana Downs
Shelbyville, IN — Indiana Downs played host to a trio of $40,000 Indiana Sires Stakes contests for freshman colt and gelding trotters on Wednesday (September 21), with favorites carrying the day.
Dontfusswithruss, from the first crop of Elegant Man, turned in the fastest of the three splits, trotting away from the field to win by a dozen lengths in 1:58.1.
Drawing the rail in the field of 10, Joe Essig, Jr. and Dontfusswithruss got away fourth as Mr Balboa and Dave Magee led the field through a :29.3 first quarter. Essig didn’t sit long with the 2-year-old, moving him to the top on the way to a :59.3 opening half.
The gelding trotted a :30 second third quarter before opening up by eight lengths at the top of the stretch. He would cruise home in :28.3 to claim his third seasonal win. Dc Chug-A-Lug and Sam Widger finished a distant second, with Irish Express trotting third.
Dontfusswithruss was bred and is owned by Jacalyn Beenman of Alexandria, Ind. The gelding, out of the Armbro Rotary mare MI Jezebel, is trained by Roger Cullipher.
After finishing a narrow second in the $200,000 ISS final on September 10, Trottin Tiger returned to the winner’s circle Wednesday night with a 1:58.3 performance. Driven by Sam Widger, the Mossy Oak-Capryz Kelvin gelding took control racing to the half and pulled away in the stretch, crossing the wire nearly eight lengths in front. The favorite was followed by early breaker My Muscleman (Josh Sutton) and Munch N Crunch (Doug Rideout).
Trained by Mark Gillenwater, who owns the gelding with Kevin Mc Kinney, Trottin Tiger earned his fifth win of the season. He has hit the board in each of his nine career starts.
Fromdownunder Ivy, tabbed the favorite in the second $40,000 division, scored a 1:59.1 triumph Wednesday for his connections. Driven by Sutton, the Southwind Elian-Frock N Wave gelding challenged first up racing to the half (1:00.2). Taking control shortly thereafter, the trotter extended his margin to 2-1/2 lengths at the finish. Dave Magee and second choice Velten San Siro trotted second followed by Dan Shetler and Chevie Balboa.
Fromdownunder Ivy is trained by Jeff Brewer for Acl Stuteri Ab. Paul Webb of Ivy Lane Farm bred the freshman.