by Emily Gaskin, Racing Publicist, Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to the $1 million Hoosier Champions Night in front of a large enthusiastic crowd on Saturday, October 19. Four Indiana Sire Stakes Champions were crowned as the top freshman Indiana-sired colts and fillies converged onto the seven-eighths mile surface to contest four $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes finals.

Favorites fared well on the 14-race card. Bluehourpower and Andi’s Alana successfully defended their champion status with wins the in their $200,000 divisional finals.

Linscott photo

Andi’s Alana captured her second Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final on Saturday’s Champions Night at Hoosier Park.

Andi’s Alana captured her second $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly trotters as she staged a determined rally late in the lane to win in 1:57. Driven by Marcus Miller, Andi’s Alana was away a worrisome sixth while Summit City Flo and Andy Shetler dictated early fractions of :28.0 and :57.3. Tyler Smith gave Kween Mightus the green light and she reached the front through the three-quarter clocking in 1:26.4 as the field began to tighten.

Miller was able to find late racing room and Andi’s Alana responded with a :29.1 closing kick to win by three lengths. Kween Mightus held on for the second place finish while Jesse’s Con, guided by Pete Wrenn, trotted evenly for third. As the publics’ choice, Andi’s Alana returned $5.20 at the windows.

“I was definitely a little worried coming around the last turn,” Miller noted of the race. “I was hoping to get out a little earlier but everything ended up working out. She did everything I asked of her and was game all the way to the wire. She’s been a great filly to drive.”

Owned by Paymaq Racing, Greg Gillis, and Harvey Eisman, Andi’s Alana notched her eighth win from 11 seasonal starts. Sired by Swan For All, the freshman filly now sports a bankroll of $314,525.

Bluehourpower followed suit in the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts as he was able to overcome a tough trip to score in 1:52.2 and notch his second Indiana Sire Stakes final win.

Guided by Sam Widger, Bluehourpower was sent from the gate alertly to land along the rail in fourth through the opening split in :27.3. Doctor Carter and Trace Tetrick struck the front through the half in :55.3 but were quickly pressured on the outside by the heavily favored Speed Trap and Ricky Macomber Jr. Speed Trap led the field through the three-quarter clocking in 1:24.1.

Heading around the final turn, Bluehourpower and Widger began the first-over journey and were strides apart with the tempo-setter at the top of the stretch. Using a :28.1 final panel, Blue Hour Power finished three lengths in front of Always At My Place and Brad Hanners. Always B Miki and Ed Hensley rounded out the trifecta.

Sired by Sand Shooter, Bluehourpower is owned and trained by Wilbur Eash. The 2-year-old gelding has now won four of 11 seasonal starts while amassing $234,844 in purse earnings.

In the 2-year-old pacing filly final, Color’s A Virgin and Jason Dillander used a sharp front-running effort to score in 1:54.3. Leaving from post seven, Color’s A Virgin was unhurried from the gate and settled along the rail in fourth. Dillander gave his filly the green light and she dictated fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.4 before ever being contested. Trace Tetrick drove the other part of the Brian Brown trained-entry in the field with Candy’s A Virgin and they were the first to take aim the leaders.

The stable-mates were matching strides down the lane but Dillander asked Color’s A Virgin for more and she responded with a :27.4 final quarter to get the win. Candy’s A Virgin finished second while U R It BB and Ricky Macomber Jr. finished third. With Nat A Virgin and Brad Hanners finishing fourth, the top four finishers in the 2-year-old filly final were sired by Always A Virgin. As the bettors’ choice, Candy’s A Virgin returned $4.20 to her backers at the window.

Owned by Emerald Highland Farms, the 2-year-old filly notched her fifth win in nine seasonal starts while sending her bankroll over $211,000. The homebred filly has been on the board in eight of her nine lifetime starts and extended her win streak to two.

The odds-on favorite, Rose Run Parker, delivered as expected for driver Ricky Macomber Jr. as he stopped the timer in 1:57.4, taking his division of the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes finals for freshman trotting colts.

Rose Run Parker moved out from fifth and cleared to command just past the opening panel in :28.4. Macomber would rate the seven-time winner past the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:28.3.

In deep stretch, Rose Run Parker began to put his talent on display and trot away from the field. Justice Jet followed intently from the pocket and the top duo separated themselves from the field with Rose Run Parker getting the upper hand at the wire. Double A Cash Hall and Trace Tetrick came from well off the pace to round out the trifecta. Heavily favored at the windows, Rose Run Parker returned $4.20 to his backers for the victory.

“He has been a great colt to train all summer,” assistant trainer Jamie Rucker noted in the winner’s circle. “He didn’t pull the ear plugs tonight and I think that just speaks to the talent this colt has. I know we are really excited to race him next year and we are hoping for big things in his future.”

Trained by Ron Burke, Rose Run Parker has now won eight of 10 lifetime outings. Sired by Jailhouse Jesse, the freshman colt has earned $208,500 this season for his connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, W. Haas.