from the USTA Communications Department
Shelbyville, IN — Fridaynightflight rallied from off the pace to win the $53,372 Fox Stake for 2-year-old open pacers in 1:52.4 on Thursday (August 18) at Indiana Downs.
Peter Wrenn was in the sulky for trainer Roger Welch as the Panspacificflight-Ramblin Rosie gelding posted his second win in just five lifetime starts, improving his earnings to $54,282. He is owned by trainer Welch along with William De Long and William Patrick De Long.
Fridaynightflight got away in fourth place as Damon Blue Chip (Trace Tetrick) cut fractions of :28.3, :57.1 and 1:25. Wrenn had Fridaynightflight out behind the cover of Peck Blue Chip (Travis Seekman) at the three-quarter pole, then took over the lead at the head of the stretch.
From there it was all Fridaynightflight as he drew away to a 2-1/4 length victory over Damon Blue Chip in a lifetime best 1:52.4. Artistic Flight, another Welch trainee piloted by Josh Sutton, finished third.
Also on the all-stakes card was the $31,532 Horseman Stake-Ralph Wilfong Trot for freshman open trotters. Wrenn found himself posing for the track photographer again when One In A Million romped by 6-3/4 lengths in a time of 1:58.1.
Scott Andrews is the trainer of the Donato Hanover-Mom’s Millionaire colt, who is owned by SGS Partners, Melvin Hartman, Perretti Racing Stable LLC and K R Breeding LLC.
One In A Million, a half-brother to the 2007 2-year-old filly Trotter of the Year Snow White, was making his lifetime debut. Starting from post five he got away fourth as Tabulator (Chip Noble) was on top at the opening quarter in :28.4.
Wrenn had One In A Million out and moving past the quarter and he was first on the outside of Tabulator at the half-mile maker timed in 1:00.4. One In A Million cleared to the lead down the backside and was never caught through second half fractions of 1:29.2 and 1:58.1.
River Severn (Rick Farrington) rallied to finish second, while Muscle Source (Charlie Norris) was third. Tabulator faded to fourth.
Also on the card were four divisions of the Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits and four divisions of the Horseman Stake for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
In the Hoosier Stakes the winners were:
- $22,974 2-year-old filly pace — Rock N Lawyer (Rocknroll Hanover-Decent Lawyer); owner Sawgrass Farms LLC/trainer Joe Seekman/driver Travis Seekman; 1:56.2
- $24,783 2-year-old colt pace — Pet Rock (Rocknroll Hanover-Casual Beauty); owner Frank Bellino/trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr./driver Peter Wrenn; 1:53.1
- $21,544 2-year-old filly trot — 2p1 Amity’s Lalabye (Broadway Hall-Amity’s Winner); owner Robert Key/trainer Rich Gillock/driver Charlie Norris; 2:00
- $23,023 2-year-old colt trot — Frost Bites K (Broadway Hall-American Frost); owner Robert Key/trainer Rich Gillock/driver Peter Wrenn; 1:58.3
The Horseman Stakes winners were:
- $34,333 3-year-old filly trot — Pay Me Sister (Revenue S-Sister’s Winner K); owner Robert Key/trainer Jim Arledge, Jr./driver Peter Wrenn; 1:56.2
- $32,656 3-year-old colt trot — Cartier Field (Yankee Glide-Cartier Hall); owner Joseph Mendelson/trainer Jan Johnson/driver Dan Shetler; 1:58.3
- $31,692 3-year-old filly pace — Ole Miss (Art Major-Biloxi); owner Sawgrass Farms LLC/trainer Joe Seekman/driver Ricky Macomber, Jr.; 1:51.1
- $35,048 3-year-old colt pace — Corey Road (Real Artist-Silver Road); owner Oldfield Farm Inc./trainer Richard Oldfield/driver Sam Widger; 1:52.1