Anderson, IN — Fresh off last weekend’s Breeders Crown at Eldorado Scioto Downs, the Grand Circuit will move to Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Oct. 30) with a quartet of six-figure stakes events for the sport’s top 3-year-olds.
The 14-race Friday program gets underway at 5:30 p.m., with the Grand Circuit events serving as the final four races on the program and comprising a $20,000 guaranteed all-stakes Late Pick-4 with an industry-low takeout rate of 12%.
Three-year-old trotting colts will take center stage in the $200,000 Carl Erskine Memorial, headlined by the Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger, who has been tabbed as the even-money morning-line favorite. The Ohio superstar is slated to have his regular Hall of Fame pilot, Tim Tetrick, in the sulky for trainer Anette Lorentzon, as the son of In Range exits a third-place effort in the $664,500 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot in his last effort. Big Ranger has won eight of 13 starts on the year, good for $668,710 in seasonal earnings and surpassing seven figures lifetime with his check in the Breeders Crown for owner Madison Global. Big Ranger will leave from post 6 in an eight-horse field that also includes Hambletonian finalists AI (post 1, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Captain Naughty (post 5, Jordan Ross), and Indiana standout Dan D Man Can (post 4, Atlee Bender).
Tetrick will also pilot the morning-line favorite in the $140,000 Crossroads of America, for sophomore trotting fillies, retaining the drive on the Nancy Takter-trained Madam Cheval. The Kentucky Filly Futurity runner-up leaves from post 5, having won four of 14 starts on the year while earning $326,394. The royally-bred daughter of Walner-Shake It Cerry is part of a three-headed monster from the Takter barn, which also includes Leading Lady (post 3, Dexter Dunn), and Bluegrass winner, Godusa (post 4, Todd McCarthy).
In the $125,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial, for sophomore pacing fillies, Whoomp will look to defend her home turf exiting a valiant second-place effort to Miss Jum Jabber in the Breeders Crown.
The 3-1 morning-line favorite will leave from post 8 with regular pilot John DeLong aboard the two-time Indiana Sires Stakes champion. William and Patrick DeLong’s homebred daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap continues to close in on $1 million in career earnings, with the Roger Welch trainee having $900,936 banked in her career while finishing no worse than second in 13 tries this season. Whoomp will take on Indiana archrival Somemore Blue (post 9, Marcus Miller), along with Jugette champion Loua Dipa (post 5, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Daya (post 7, Austin Hanners), who makes her first start after Team Luther purchased her via onGait for $345,000.
The evening will close with the $160,000 Monument Circle, for 3-year-old male pacers, where Breeders Crown runner-up Al Papi has been tagged as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Driver Yannick Gingras will look to navigate the second tier from post 10 with the Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy colt who has bagged signature victories in the Adios and Tattersalls over the course of his sophomore campaign. With more than $1.5 million in career earnings, Al Papi headlines a quartet from the Ron Burke barn that also includes Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion and Breeders Crown elim winner Melillo (post 4, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Indiana Sires Stakes champion Swiss Lights will leave from the rail with leading driver Trace Tetrick, and having won four of his last six starts while hitting the board in all 14 tries this year.
Guests attending in person on Friday can enjoy the annual Fright Night at the Races, Hoosier Park’s yearly Halloween celebration. The horse costume contest gets underway in the front paddock at 5 p.m., with people’s choice voting available for a $5 donation to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. There will also be free truck-or-treating on the track apron, corn maze, pumpkin giveaway and decorating station, and live DJ. All Fright Night festivities take place from 5-9 p.m. on the track apron.
Free online programs for the Friday card are available on the Hoosier Park website, as well as information for upcoming events at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. For more information, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.