by Dan Conway, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondant
A very competitive field of six trotters went to the post in the $11,400 Invitational Handicap on Friday night at Hazel Park Raceway.
The bettors went heavily for Arnie’s Shadow who captured this class last week with the mare, Lori Louise, the second choice. Hoosier Jewel was the modest longshot in the field ($10.20) and she was driven by one of the few female drivers in the sport, Sally Foxworthy, her trainer.
As the gate left, John Moody rushed Pure Electricity out to the front looking to cut the mile, as is the style of this horse. Mark Webster and Vegas Volcano also wanted a piece of the early action and they were coming up on the outside second as Pure Electricity passed the quarter in :281. The mare, Rasberry Worthy, driven by Chuck Taylor, was away third.
Vegas Volcano, who has lifetime earnings of over $400,000, then took command and trotted past the fans and led the field around the clubhouse turn. At this point, Henry Wilson had Arnie’s Shadow out and moving on the outside followed by Lori Louise in the hands of Vince Copeland. The half came in :573.
Down the backside, Arnie’s Shadow ranged up and pressured Vegas Volcano heading around the final turn. Lori Louise continued to follow Arnie’s Shadow with Hoosier Jewel and Foxworthy also coming up from the back of the field. Vegas Volcano was still racing strong however when he passed the three-quarters in 1:272.
Entering the stretch, Vegas Volcano had a short lead over Arnie’s Shadow with Lori Louise just a couple lengths back and Hoosier Jewel coming on the far outside.
Down the lane everybody came strong after Vegas Volcano and at mid-stretch it could have been anybody’s race. In the end, however, it was Hoosier Jewel who had the best kick and at the wire the six-year-old mare was a solid length ahead of Pure Electricity. The race went in 1:581 with Arnie’s Shadow third, another length back.
Hoosier Jewel won her first pari-mutuel race of this season and now sports lifetime earnings of $134,753. The daughter of Delphi’s Oracle, out of Summer’s Crown, is owned by Mel Gilbert of Georgia.