Anderson, IN — Indiana-sired 2-year-old pacing colts were the featured attraction at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (July 14), contesting a pair of first-round Indiana Sires Stakes preliminary events.

Buzzsaw Russ turned his career debut into an eye-catching, off-the pace score to capture the $70,000 first division in 1:53 with driver John DeLong in the bike, employing a :25.1 closing kick to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Why Not Now and Peter Wrenn. Bible Thumper and Daryl Bontrager, who set the pace for much of the mile, finished third. Coach Stefanos was sent off as the betting favorite but made a costly break in the first turn.

Buzzsaw Russ kicked home stoutly in :25.1 to win on debut in Indiana Sires Stakes action.

The Missy Essig-trained son of Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser scored his first lifetime victory after a pair of qualifying victories at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Buzzsaw Russ, who paid $9.20 to win, is owned in partnership by Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver, and was bred by Devon Beechy and Devon Knepp.

In the $69,500 second division, Art It Is and Brandon Bates converted a pocket trip into an impressive 1:51.2 score. Leaving from post nine, Bates gave Art It Is his marching orders, and he left the gate alertly to grab a seat behind the pacesetting Hetolditlikeitwas (DeLong).

Hetolditlikeitwas led the field through splits of :27.1, :56 and 1:24.3 before ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Art It Is tipped from the pocket turning for home and used a :26.2 closing kick to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Hetolditlikeitwas was second while Dustin The Others (Jimmy Whittemore) rallied gamely to finish third, another 8-3/4 lengths behind.

Art It Is proved a solid two-move winner in the second division. Dean Gillette Photography.

Art It Is, who trainer Mark P’Pool owns with Dolne Farm Services and Therese DeFabis, recorded his second win from two lifetime starts. The Legacy Acres-bred son of Tellitlikeitis-JNB N Me paid $12.00 to win.

Live racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (July 15) with a 14-race card. First post is 6:15 p.m. For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.