by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — The opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action highlighted the Tuesday (May 23) program at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and featured three divisions of $20,000 stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Each filly was aiming to earn a spot in the first of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals slated for May 30 at Hoosier Park.

Indiana’s 2-year-old trotting filly of the year, Satin Dancer, looked every bit the part of a 1-9 favorite as she turned a pocket trip into a 2-1/2 length victory, scoring in 1:56.

Linscott Photography

Satin Dancer delivered as the heavy betting favorite in her split of the stakes action at Hoosier Park.

Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Satin Dancer protected her rail position but J-S Jesses Girl and Sam Widger were on a mission to the front. J-S Jesses Girl dictated fractions of :27.3, :57.4, and 1:27.4 before Satin Dancer tipped from the pocket late in the lane to cruise home in front.

Trained by Byron Hooley, Satin Dancer has now won 11 of 19 lifetime starts and sports a career bankroll of $283,558. The daughter of Big Stick Lindy-Shaken Not Stirred captured the second win from three seasonal outings of her sophomore campaign for owner Summit Pacing Acres LLC.

The fastest division of the night belonged to Swan Defined and LeWayne Miller who recorded their third consecutive Hoosier Park win, this night in 1:55. The victory established a new lifetime best mark for the daughter of Swan For All-Armbro Definition.

Swan Defined also benefited from a pocket seat while Wheels A Turning and Joe Putnam carved out splits of :29, :58.3 and 1:27.1. As the field turned for home, Swan Defined found another gear, utilizing a :27.2 final quarter to win by 5-3/4 lengths.

Swan Defined improved her lifetime record to six wins from 10 lifetime starts while bankrolling $41,905 in lifetime purse earnings. Owned by Last Chance Racing Stable and Clifford Slusher, Swan Defined has now won three of four 2017 starts.

The biggest upset of the night was found in the final split of the stakes action as Shawnee Beauty and Brandon Bates found the winner’s circle at odds of 13-1. Scoring her maiden breaking win amongst stakes company, Shawnee Beauty converted a pocket trip into a 1:56 victory, scoring by nearly two lengths.

Bates sent Shawnee Beauty away from the gate firing to grab a seat behind the pacesetting Ajessia and Doug Rideout. Ajessia relaxed on the front through fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27 while the field remained in single file order. Bates tipped Shawnee Beauty from the pocket late in the lane and she dug in gamely to get the win.

“She is a very good gaited, very willing filly,” Bates noted after the victory. “She was lightly raced last year and had a tendency to get hot so we’ve been teaching her every start. She continues to mature and really enjoys her job; I don’t think we’ve seen the best from her yet.”

Trained by Henry Lunsford, the 3-year-old daughter of Valley Speed-Double Yankee recorded her first victory from 13 lifetime outings. Shawnee Beauty has now earned $24,120 for her owner Judith Lunsford.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (May 24) with three $20,000 divisions of the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through Nov. 17. The 24th season of live harness racing is highlighted by the 34th edition of the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s championship event valued at $6 million, on Friday (Oct. 27) and Saturday (Oct. 28). For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.