Anderson, IN — Grand Circuit action returned to Harrah’s Hoosier Park with five divisions of The Star Destroyer for 3-year-olds highlighting the 14-race card on Friday (Nov. 17). Entering as the headliners on the card, French Wine and Coach Stefanos did not disappoint, delivering dominant victories in their respective divisions.

Saddled with post eight in the $60,000 sophomore colt trot, driver Andy Miller landed French Wine in the fourth position on the first turn as Texsong Soprano (Mike Oosting) put up a :26.2 opening-quarter. The hot pace didn’t deter Miller from pulling the right line on the backstretch, giving French Wine his marching orders to the lead at the half in :55.3. French Wine began to assert himself on the front entering the far turn, opening up to a two-length lead at three-quarters in 1:25.1 as Talent Scout (Doug Rideout) challenged Texsong Soprano for the second spot. Turning for home, French Wine remained strong on the lead, powering home in :27.1 to hold a late-charging Helpfirstedition at bay by just over three lengths in 1:52.2. Texsong Soprano held for the third position.

French Wine inched closer to the million-dollar mark with his 1:52.2 win in the Star Destroyer.

The victory was the fourth of the year in 17 seasonal outings and eighth in the career for the royally-bred son of Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi. The Julie Miller trainee has now banked $992,694 in lifetime earnings for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Daniel Plouffe, Jean Cristophe Plouffe and One Legend Stable Inc.

Not to be outdone, Coach Stefanos delivered as the 1-9 favorite in dominant fashion in the $65,000 sophomore colt pace. Leaving from post four in the field of eight, regular pilot Trace Tetrick settled in the fifth position through the opening quarter as Burnout (LeWayne Miller) led the way to that station in :26 while parked by Liteningonthebeach (Jordan Ross). Burnout cleared on the backstretch but the pace remained hot to the :54.1 half, prompting Tetrick to angle Coach Stefanos first-over and charging up to the leader’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:22.4 with Buzzsaw Russ (John DeLong) in tow second-over. Coach Stefanos powered to the lead at the top of the stretch, sprinting to the wire in :26 to score by 2-1/4 lengths over Buzzsaw Russ in 1:49. Dynamite Dylan (Andy Miller) rallied for the show spot.

Coach Stefanos lived up to his 1-9 billing in the Star Destroyer for sophomore male pacers. Dean Gillette Photography.

The Erv Miller trainee notched his third victory in his last four starts and eighth of the season through 16 starts in 2023. Owned by Kenneth Duffy, D&M Trading IL LLC and John Stefanos, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch B Be Watched has earned $535,365 in 2023 and $780,420 for his career.

Earlier on the card, Dragon By The Sea won the first of two $30,500 divisions of the Star Destroyer for sophomore pacing fillies. A late driver change found Atlee Bender in the bike, and he left alertly from post four to sit the pocket behind To All A Goodnight and Andy Miller through an opening quarter of :26.1. Bender popped the pocket on the backstretch to gain the top spot, but only briefly as Tarapasta (LeWayne Miller) took charge to the half in :55.4. It was Racin Hungry’s (John DeLong) turn to lead the outer flow while she engaged Tarapasta on the lead through three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Dragon By The Sea angling back out for more from third. In the stretch, Racin Hungry put away Tarapasta before Dragon By The Sea uncorked a :26.3 final-quarter to chase down the leader by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4.

The Jeff Smith-trained daughter of Downbytheseaside-Prima Dragon earned her seventh victory in 18 tries this season and has banked $190,595 in her career for owner John Van Horn.

John DeLong had the hot hand on the evening, driving five winners on the card, including Mollop Hanover in the second Star Destroyer division for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Mollop Hanover settled in the third spot early as Cantgetuoutamymind and Andy Miller rode the wind to a wicked :25.3 first quarter. DeLong moved at the quarter with Mollop Hanover to take command prior to the :54.2 half. Trace Tetrick brought the heavily favored Hungry For Love first-up to the leader’s wheel at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.2. Headed at the top of the lane, Mollop Hanover dug in gamely to find more in the stretch, gutting out a :28 final quarter to open her lead back up to 2-1/4 lengths on the wire in 1:51.2. Let’s Misbehave (Marvin Luna) rallied for second, with Walkin On Sunshine (Jay Cross) rounding out the trifecta.

Missy Essig trained the daughter of Betting Line-Mayhem Seelster to her seventh victory in 18 starts this season. The victory brought Mollop Hanover’s lifetime earnings to $131,832 for owners Eric Good, West Wins Stable and Dumain Haven Farm LLC.

DeLong wasn’t finished in the stakes action on the evening, scoring a mild upset with Believe U Me in the $60,500 3-year-old filly trot. DeLong landed in the third position early as Picaboo Lady (Joey Putnam) stung Helpoftheseason (Peter Wrenn) to a :27.2 first-quarter. Wrenn mashed the brakes on the backstretch, stealing a :31 second quarter to the half in :58.2. Pressure came to the leader from Southwind Cherry (Trace Tetrick), surging first-over into second while Believe U Me worked off the pylons to follow her cover on the way to three-quarters in 1:27.4. In the lane, Believe U Me surged off cover in :26.4 to get the jump on Picaboo Lady who rallied up the passing lane, scoring the victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Helpoftheseason gamely held for third.

The Ontario Sires Stakes champion scored her sixth victory in 19 seasonal efforts for trainer Ron Burke and owner Bill Donovan. The daughter of Muscle Mass-I Believe is now a winner of $289,228 for her career.

Racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park continues on Saturday (Nov. 18) with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. For the holiday week, Harrah’s Hoosier Park will be dark on Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) before racing returns on Friday, November 24 with a special early post time of 4 p.m. For more information on the 2023 live racing season, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.