Anderson, IN — Four divisions of the Thanksgiving Classic, with purses ranging from $57,000 to $61,000, were featured at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (Nov. 24). After capturing the $190,000 Monument Circle Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings and the $65,000 Star Destroyer Stakes, Coach Stefanos continued his winning ways at Hoosier in his split of the Thanksgiving Classic with a 1:50.1 score by two lengths. Helpfirstedition, the 2023 Indiana Sires Stakes 3-year-old trotting colt champion, was also back in the winner’s circle capturing his Thanksgiving Classic split.

Sophomore trotting fillies kicked off the stakes action, and Believe U Me and driver John DeLong converted a pocket trip into a 1:54.2 score. Using a :27.1 closing kick, Believe U Me tracked down pacesetter Helpoftheseason and Peter Wrenn to win by nearly two lengths. Helpoftheseason settled for second while Foolish Games and Marvin Luna rallied well late for third. Sent off as the heavy betting favorite, Believe U Me returned $4.60.

The daughter of Muscle Mass-I Believe captured her seventh win of the season and second straight Hoosier Park victory for trainer Ron Burke and owner Bill Donovan. Believe U Me pushed her career earnings to $319,228.

Helpfirstedition used similar tactics in the very next division, turning a pocket trip into a 1:53.4 score. French Wine and driver Andy Miller dictated fractions of :27.1, :58.1 and 1:27.2 without ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Turning for home, French Wine looked strong on the front, but Helpfirstedition was winding up in the pocket. Using a :26 closing quarter, Helpfirstedition tracked down a game French Wine and put a nose in front at the wire.

Helpfirstedition and driver John DeLong captured the $58,000 Thanksgiving Classic for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Helpfirstedition notched his ninth win from 23 starts this season. With the second-place finish, French Wine became the sport’s newest millionaire and will now be retired to stand stud at Winterwood Farms in Ohio.

Helpfirstedition is trained by Missy Essig and owned in partnership by Ervin Wickey, John Graber, Running Wild Stables and John Schmucker. The gelded son of Helpisontheway-She Knows Swagger pushed his lifetime bankroll to $446,595.

In the next division, Coach Stefanos continued his winning ways with another impressive victory. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick in the bike, Coach Stefanos used his customary late rally — a :25.3 closing quarter, to be exact — to win by nearly two lengths in 1:50.1. It was the third straight victory and fourth win in the last five starts for the Erv Miller trainee. The victory was also one of six victories on the evening for Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s leading driver, Trace Tetrick.

Coach Stefanos recorded his third straight Harrah’s Hoosier Park victory by capturing his split of the Thanksgiving Classic stakes. Dean Gillette Photography.

The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched has now won nine of 17 starts this season while bankrolling $565,365. Coach Stefanos is owned in partnership by Kenneth Duffy, D&M Trading II and J. Chris Stefanos, and now sports a lifetime bankroll of $841,420.

The biggest upset of the evening came in the final Thanksgiving Classic division as Racin Hungry and Peter Wrenn pulled a slight 6-1 upset in the 3-year-old pacing filly division. Rallying from off the pace, Racin Hungry put together a :26.3 closing quarter and held off a late surge from Let’s Misbehave and Marvin Luna to win by a head in 1:52.3.

The Jenn Bongiorno-trained daughter of Stay Hungry-Four Starzz Meliss scored her seventh win from 17 seasonal starts for the partnership by Glenn Goller and Stephen Demeter, and she pushed her lifetime bankroll to $212,051.

Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will continue on Saturday (Nov. 25) with a 12-race card, which will feature a $20,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 pool fueled by a $7,685.21 carryover. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.