by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — Ima Real Ladys Man, with Michael Oosting in the bike, turned in a gritty performance to find the winner’s circle in the featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (Sept. 13). Stopping the timer in 1:51.1, Ima Real Ladys Man was able to overcome a tough, first-over trip to pull the 8-1 upset and establish a new lifetime best in the process.

Linscott photo

ImaReal Ladys Man established a new lifetime best in the $75,000 Indiana SiresStakes Final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Leaving from post three in the talented field of ten, Ima Real Ladys Man was uninvolved in the early stages of the race. LeWayne Miller had last week’s elimination winner, Frontier Telaphras, dialed in and he was pointed to the front through the opening panel in :26.3. His lead would be short lived as the heavy post-time favorite, Ollie’s Ztam, wanted his turn on the front and made a quick move down the backside to reach command at the second station in :54.1.

The quick pace continued as Ollie’s Ztam led the field through the three-quarters in 1:22.3 but Oosting was unable to wait any longer and had Ima Real Ladys Man on the attack first-over. As the field turned for home, Ima Real Ladys Man had the momentum and surged past the tiring leader, rolling on to the wire finishing three lengths to the good. Tellmeaboutit and Peter Wrenn used a well-timed attack to get up for second while Frontier Telaphras held on for third. Ima Real Ladys Man returned $18.80 to his backers at the betting windows.

“He’s been a nice colt all along,” trainer, owner and breeder Perry Smith noted after the victory. “He’s never done anything wrong and we took our time with him. The trips haven’t worked out for him but he has a lot of guts just like his mother.”

Smith also raced the dam of Ima Real Ladys Man, Im The Real Lady, who was an Indiana Sires Stakes champion at two. Sired by Tellitlikeitis, the homebred gelding has now won three of seven lifetime outings while pushing his lifetime bankroll to $77,186 for his connections. Ima Real Ladys Man is expected to take on Grand Circuit company in his next outing at Hoosier Park on Friday (Sept. 21) in the $125,000 Elevation Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (Sept. 14) with the fifth and final $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighting the evening’s 14-race card. With a daily post time of 6:30 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through Nov. 10. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.