by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will highlight the 2014 harness racing season on Saturday (Sept. 6) with Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers convening on Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths-mile oval for the annual Hoosier Champions Night, the fourth of five rounds of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals.

A total of 14 races have been established and after the dust settles, eight new Indiana Sires Stakes champions will be crowned. The first race will line up behind the starting gate at 5:15 p.m.

Revamped for the 2014 season, the Indiana Sires Stakes program features five legs throughout the season, and from each leg, the top 20 horses return to compete in a final and consolation. The 2014 stakes season will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous $75,000 finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on Oct. 18 at Hoosier Park.

“Our Hoosier Champions Night has become a much-anticipated event among horsemen and racing fans alike,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing Rick Moore noted. “The 2014 season has already exceeded my expectations and I am excited to offer racing fans another stellar night of racing. To have horses of this quality racing at Hoosier Park speaks volumes to where our racing program has come and where it is going.”

In its 21st season of live harness racing, Hoosier Park is in the midst of one of its fastest seasons to date. Sweet Lou recently lowered the overall track record to 1:47.2 in the $250,000 Dan Patch Invitational on Aug. 8. Of the eight respective Indiana Sires Stakes divisions, five of the eight have produced track record breaking or equaling miles this season.

Linscott Photography

Freaky Feet Pete and Trace Tetrick will look to score another $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final at Hoosier Park on Saturday.

Freaky Feet Pete not only holds the Hoosier Park track record for 2-year-old pacing colts but was also a national season’s record holder with his 1:50.4 score in Indiana Sires Stakes action earlier in the season. Guided by Trace Tetrick, Freaky Feet Pete will look to score his second $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts from the trailing post ten on Saturday.

Always B Miki recently shattered the track record for 3-year-old pacing colts with a 1:48.4 score in the last $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final and followed that up with a win in his most recent elimination. Trained by Joe Holloway, Always B Miki will look to score his second Indiana Sires Stakes final win with driver Peter Wrenn in the sulky from post eight.

In the 3-year-old trotting colt ranks, Rose Run Parker returned to his winning ways and re-established his own track record with a 1:54 score in the elimination round of stakes action last week at Hoosier Park. Trained by Ron Burke, Rose Run Parker will start from post three in the $75,000 final for Hoosier Park’s all-time leading driver, Ricky Macomber Jr.

Following suit, Airman Batten also re-established his own track record in the 2-year-old trotting colt ranks with a 1:55.4 score in his elimination. Driven by LeWayne Miller, Airman Batten will look to extend his five-race winning streak from post four in the field of ten for trainer Erv Miller.

The Erv Miller Stable will also send out Andi’s Alana, who will put her eight-race win streak on the line in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Undefeated in eight starts this season, Andi’s Alana will start from post seven with her regular pilot LeWayne Miller in the sulky.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:15 p.m. The 160-day, all harness racing meet will offer an extended stakes schedule and be conducted through Nov. 15.