Anderson, IN — Indiana Sire Stakes action continued at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with two $68,000 divisions for the two-year-old-pacing colts and geldings highlighting the 14-race card on Friday (August 19). It was leg three of six for the freshman pacing colts as they look to secure crucial points for the $250,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals on October 14.

Buzzsaw Russ rallies up the rail to score in the first division of Indiana Sire Stakes in 1:51:1. Dean Gillette Photo.

In the first division going off as race ten on the card, Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long) would reward the betting public’s backing as the 2-5 choice. Leaving from post position three, De Long hustled Buzzsaw Russ into the pocket position as Art It Is (Brandon Bates) took the field to the quarter in a solid :27. 

Art It Is remained unchallenged on the engine through a half of :56.1 before Trace Tetrick hustled the Fox Stake Champion, Coach Stefanos into the mix first over to the leader’s wheel at three quarters in 1:23:4.

In the stretch, Coach Stefanos and Tetrick forged to the lead as Buzzsaw Russ and De Long patiently waited for the passing lane. Buzzsaw Russ would explode up the rail in the final eighth to track down Coach Stefanos in the shadow of the wire and score the victory in a lifetime best 1:51:1. Art It Is would hold for third to round out the trifecta.

It was the third victory in four career starts for the Missy Essig trained gelding by Rockin Image out of the Yankee Cruiser mare, Up Front Cruiser. Bred by Devon Beech and Devon Knepp, Buzzsaw Russ has now banked $84,160 for owners Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver.

In the second division in the evening’s twelfth race, it would be Flirtin JK (Ricky Macomber Jr.) turning in an impressive effort to pull off the upset 12-1. Leaving from post six, Flirtin JK would get away fifth in the field of seven as Trace Tetrick guided the heavily favored and unbeaten J B Gram to the front at the quarter in :28 J B Gram maintained his lead through a half of :56 before leading the field to three-quarters in 1:24:2 as Flirtin JK and Macomber launched their bid from fourth on the far turn six lengths behind the leader.

In the lane, Flirtin JK used a 26:3 final quarter to gobble up ground and make up the deficit, joining J B Gram on the lead late in the lane before getting up by a length and a quarter on the line to score in 1:52:1. J B Gram would hold for second, Adam Twelve and Joey Putnam finished third.

Trained and co-owned by Jamie Macomber who co-owns the gelding alongside the gelding’s breeder James Stonecipher, Flirtin JK picked up his second win in five career starts and has now earned $54,470. The 1:52:1 time was a lifetime best for the gelded son of JK Endofanera out of the Mcardle mare, Mcflirty.

Also in action on the Friday night card, Tellmeaboutit (Michael Oosting) bounced back a week after a ninth-place effort in the $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes to Bulldog Hanover, with an eye-popping 1:47:4 front-end score in the $22,000 Open Pace. Little Rocket Man and De Long would rally for second, with Mac’s Big Boy and Trace Tetrick finishing third.

The 1:47:4 effort was a lifetime best for the two-time Indiana Sire Stakes Champion son of Tellitlikeitis who has now pushed his gaudy career bankroll to $743,065 for owners Twila Harts and Alvin Miller who trains the six-year-old gelding. The 1:47:4 time is the fastest mile of the 2022 meet thus far at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, surpassing the 1:48 mark previously held by Sectionline Bigry.

Racing action continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday (August 20), with a 12-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. For more information on the 2022 racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.