by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino highlighted their 21st season of live harness racing with a stakes filled card on Saturday (July 5).

Four new Indiana Sires Stakes champions were crowned on the evening that featured the first of five rounds of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for the freshman competitors and the second round of the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for the 3-year-old divisions. It was Hoosier Park’s leading driver, Trace Tetrick, who stole the show with five winners on the evening’s 14-race card, four of which came in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals.

In the opening division of the 2-year-old stakes action, Crunchess Finale and Darrel Wright continued their winning ways to score their third consecutive victory in the $75,000 2-year-old trotting filly final with a 1:58 time.

Using the same front-running tactics as she has in her previous two starts, Crunchess Finale looked every bit the part of an 8-5 favorite and left alertly from post eight. The freshman filly easily secured the lead and clicked off fractions of :28.3, 1:00 and 1:28.2 before finding another gear.

As the field turned for home, the daughter of ABC Garland-Crunchess looked poised on the front and began to trot away from the rest of the field. Using a :29.3 final quarter, Crunchess Finale coasted on to the wire to finish five lengths in front of Golden Big Stick and Brad Hanners. Heavily backed at the window, Crunchess Finale returned $5.40 to her backers.

The 1:58 victory was a lifetime best mark for the Dan O’Mara trainee who remains undefeated this season. Owned by Joseph Hess, Crunchess Finale has now earned $50,500 from three lifetime outings.

In the very next race, Stickem Buck, driven by Ed Hensley, staged a big rally late in the lane to score his maiden breaking win in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 2-year-old trotting colts in 1:58.2.

After a miscue at the start by the heavily favored Airman Batten the race appeared to be a wide open affair. Flashy Cantab and Trace Tetrick left aggressively to set first half fractions of :29.2 and :59.2 before making a costly break around the final turn. Swan On One and Dave Magee inherited the lead after the break by the front-runner and appeared to be up to the task but Stickem Buck loomed large in the background.

Under urging from Hensley, Stickem Buck was able to track down Swan On One in the final strides of the mile to win by a nose. Slightly dismissed at the windows, Stickem Buck returned $12.60 to his backers.

From the first crop of Big Stick Lindy and out of Aunt Lane, Stickem Buck is trained by Roger Welch and owned by William C. De Long and William P. De Long. Stickem Buck has now earned $42,500 from two career starts.

Linscott Photography

Trace Tetrick won with Flight Cancelled in the 2-year-old filly pace final.

On the pacing side of the 2-year-old stakes action, Hoosier Park’s leading driver Trace Tetrick doubled up in both the filly and colt final. First, Tetrick guided Flight Cancelled to her second consecutive win as a freshman in the $75,000 pacing filly final with a time of 1:55.

Leaving from the trailing post ten, Flight Cancelled was eased off the gate and settled along the rail in fifth while Heyhey Mahanah and Peter Wrenn carved out first-half fractions of :28.4 and :57.4. Approaching the final turn, Tetrick gave his mount the green light and she reached the leader’s wheel at the third station in 1:26.

As the field turned for home, the top pair was neck and neck but Flight Cancelled wasn’t finished. Using a :28.3 final panel, Flight Cancelled was able to wear down Heyhey Mahanah late in the lane to grind out the victory. As the betting public’s second choice, Flight Cancelled returned $13.00 for the victory.

Trained by Steve Carter, Flight Cancelled remains undefeated at two for owners Steve and Tammy Carter. The daughter of Panspacificflight-Goa BB now sports a career bankroll of $37,500 from two lifetime outings.

Just a few races later, Tetrick continued his winning ways and scored with Tom Simmons’ Kelly D in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts in 1:52.4. Kelly D remains undefeated at two and equaled the national season’s mark for 2-year-old pacing colts with the win.

Kelly D left aggressively from post two to get the first call in :27.4 but quickly yielded the lead to Harfo Hanover and Ed Hensley. Harfo Hanover led the way through the middle splits of :56.3 and 1:25.2 before feeling pressure on the outside from Camturo Rock and Dave Magee.

Harfo Hanover was able to put away Camturo Rock and dug in gamely down the lane but could not hold off Kelly D who exploded from the pocket. With a final quarter in :27, Kelly D finished two lengths in front of the hard-charging Toni’s Affection and Sam Widger. As the public’s third choice, Kelly D returned $7.40 at the betting windows.

The homebred son of Panspacificflight-U Olive is owned by Larry Breed and has won all three of his lifetime outings. Kelly D now sports a career bankroll of $51,525.

Tetrick also scored with Brian Brown’s Color’s A Virgin in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing fillies and Scott Galloway’s Double A Cash Hall in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting colts. His first win of the night came in the $25,000 consolation for 2-year-old pacing fillies with Do U Mind for trainer Brian Brown.

Live racing continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday (July 8) with a 14-race card. Live racing will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:15 p.m. The 160-day, all harness racing meet will be conducted through Nov. 15.