by Mike Wandishin, for Indiana Downs
Shelbyville, IN — Indiana Sires Stake races are featured on an 11 race card from Indiana Downs on Sunday afternoon. Eight races, including one early non-betting race are Indiana Sires Stakes and, of these, three are lucrative finals totaling over $220,000. The day’s first betting race, with a post of 12:55 p.m. (EST), should be another easy one for the reigning Two-Year-Old Colt-Gelding champion, Dr. Douglas Bruinsma’s Chiva’s Rocket. This one looks to continue his four race win streak and has trimmed his lifetime mark in each of those starts. Local leader Don Irvine, Jr. handles this one again and the pair is optimistically rated at 4-5 on the morning line. The one most likely to challenge Chiva’s Rocket would be the speedy, but erratic, Donerail Joe, who has a brilliant turn of speed. This one took the battle to Chiva’s Rocket first over last week and was easily second best. Jay Cross returns to handle the lines on this one. Race four is the Aged Mares Trotting Sires Stakes Final and it appears to be a wide open event. Andy Shetler’s VG Eagle Express has won three times this season and usually carries the field as far as she can. In her last two efforts she’s been second best, but it took track records to beat her each time. She starts from post five here. The Eash Racing Stable entry of Need We Say More, driven by Ricky Macomber, Jr., and Awesome Becky, with Don Eash driving, are rated second best on the morning line. Two back Awesome Becky used a two hole trip to surprise VG Eagle Express in a track record time of 1:55. Last week she got “bottomed out” in the two hole and lost touch in the stretch. The third choice here is Dan Shetler’s, in partnership with Crystal Ball Stables, Before The Rain. This one sat a three hole trip last start behind the above-mentioned ones and roared by in the stretch for a 1:55 score. She’s making her third start off a short layoff. Jolly Jessica makes her second start back in three months and has struggled to regain the form that saw her win almost $170,000 last season. Coming from the Bobby Brower barn and being driven by Don Irvine, Jr., she has to be respected here. The sixth race is the Aged Mares Pacing Sires Stakes Final and the Wilbur Eash trained entry of Valley Electric and Marks Art is the tepid favorite at 5-2. Valley Electric was the dominate filly in last year’s races and has shown signs of regaining top form in her last few efforts over the Shelbyville oval. Jay Cross is back to drive this week after Valley Electric got a useful tightener at the Red Mile last week. Michelles Hartbeat, with Jimmy Whisman in the bike, starts from the rail and has won her last two starts. Another to watch is Leave Me Cammy. Trained by Alvin Miller and driven by Don Irvine, Jr., this one has gotten sharp in her last few, showing two wins and a second in her last four starts. Secret Dial represents the Eash Racing Stable here and was shuffled out of it last time. A better trip could be all this one needs to be right there. A longshot with a chance is Awake To Glory. Two back this Tom Luther driven mare gave Valley Electric all she wanted and last time wasn’t able to get involved from an outside post. National driving star Eric Ledford is in town and will be driving My Chief for owners Merrill and Jo Ann Hobbs. He’s driven this one twice this season and won both times, including winning the Hoosier Park division of the Indiana Sires Stakes Final for Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings. The one has been a cash machine for his owners having won 10 of 22 lifetime starts and banking over $120,000. It won’t be easy here though as the morning line choice is Capt Silverheels, Jimmy Whisman driving, who drew the rail and has a win and two close-up places in his last three starts here. Silver Flash, Walter Haynes, Jr. driving, is the co-second choice at 3-1 and draws the seven post here. He’s won two of his last four and had a place finish in another start. TC Laser Beam, Jimmy Shelton in the bike, got a great speed tightener last week and should go well from the 10 post, following favored Capt Silverheels. First post is 12:55 p.m. (EST) and there will be a special Labor Day matinee card beginning at 12:55 p.m. on Monday.