by Mike Wandishin, for Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — It was another speedy Sunday at Indiana Downs as eight lifetime marks were set in 10 races, among them a new track record by Foxy Maneuver and one track record tied by Awesome Becky.

The eighth race was the much anticipated match up between Foxy Maneuver and Premieronbroadway.

“Foxy” is widely regarded as the champion and simply crushed them two back in an Indiana Sires Stake, after battling the best in North America at the Meadowlands during the summer. Lifetime, Foxy had won 27 times in 75 starts and was the fastest Indiana-sired pacer until July 17 of this year.

Premieronbroadway became the fastest Indiana-sired on July 17 with a 1:49 score at the Meadowlands, where he’s been campaigning this season. He’s faced tough ones all season there, but has returned to Indiana to participate in the rich Indiana Sires Stakes for older horses.

As usual, Don Eash would be driving Foxy and “Premier” picked up the services of Indiana’s leading driver, Don Irvine, Jr. Yet, it would be a mistake not to mention the rest of the field as Three Quarter Cam, a speedy Electric Yankee gelding (Brian Carpenter); Cog Hill (Walter Haynes, Jr.), a former track record holder; Kentucky Socks (Andy Shetler), a consistent force in the higher level conditioned races in Indiana all season; Auric Aura (Ricky Macomber, Jr.), a speedy son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s; and Cover Me, who competed in the Clyde Hirt Series at the Meadowlands early this season, completed the field.

Three Quarter Cam rolled right out of the gate, as he’s been doing since his return to Indiana, and led through a quarter in :26², with Premier right on his back in the two hole and Foxy away third.

Irvine and Premier brushed to the lead and got to the half in :54 flat, with Three Quarter Cam now sitting a two hole and Foxy still sitting patiently on the rail third, as the rest of the field had already disappeared from the screen at this point.

During the third quarter Premier continued to roll and hit the beam in 1:21⁴, taking the steam out of a gapping Three Quarter Cam, but Foxy Maneuver now was out and getting ready to launch his closing bid from about five lengths back.

By the stretch, Premier was still roll along but Foxy was relentlessly reeling him in and the battle was about to be joined. A sixteenth out, Premier continued to slug it out with the now dead even Foxy. In the final 20 yards, Foxy got a desperate nose, then a head and finally a neck lead on the game Premier.

The pair crossed the wire in 1:49³, shattering Street Sign’s old record of 1:50², set only three weeks ago, and was the fastest time paced in Indiana this season.

The winner, owned by Eash Racing Stable and trained by driver Don Eash, broke his personal mark of 1:49⁴, set last year at Balmoral, and went over the $470,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

“Premier” lost no luster with his superb effort to be second and recorded his third straight sub 1:50 mile. He’s owned by the Rucker Stable and Keep The Dream Going Inc. and has gone well over the $100,000 mark in earnings this season.

Three Quarter Cam amazingly held the show spot after losing touch with the top two, but was far back in what was probably his fastest mile.

This track record breaking effort gave Don Eash a unique owner, trainer and driving double, as he had previously driven the winner of the first race, Awesome Becky.

Awesome Becky used a two hole trip behind the favored V G Eagle Express (Andy Shetler) and was along in time to score in 1:55, which tied the track record for older trotting mares previously set by Cartier Hall last season.

Racing action resumes at Indiana Downs on Wednesday evening with a first post of 6:55 p.m.