Anderson, IN – Inverness Ave and Nighthawk Zette secured big wins as they took down their respective $49,500 divisions in the sixth leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday (Aug. 20).
Sent off at odds of 22-1, Inverness Ave, driven by Kevin Lambright for trainer Ernie Gaskin, won the first division while upending the previously unbeaten Dan D Man Can.
Starting from post 3, Inverness Ave found easy access to the rail in fourth while Swan Affect (driven by Marcus Miller), who left from post 1, led to the opening quarter in :28. Single file on the backstretch, favorite Dan D Man Can (Atlee Bender) soon asserted his will, gliding to the front of the seven-horse field to the halfway pole in :57.3.
On the turn, Inverness Ave advanced from fourth as he cruised alongside Dan D Man Can, who led at the three-quarters in 1:25.2. Down the stretch, Dan D Man Can continued to fend off challenges, but Inverness Ave wrote a different ending as he wore down the leader to snap Dan D Man Can’s seasonal win streak at seven. Inverness Ave crossed the wire in 1:52.3, clear by three-quarters of a length. Dan D Man Can fell to second while Swan Affect held for third.
The Helpisontheway gelding is owned by Theodore Engel, Douglas Shore, and Ernest Gaskin Stables Inc. Inverness Ave was bred by The Bay’s Stable LLC, Polger Holdings LLC, and Little E LLC. Boosting his lifetime earnings to $167,585, Inverness Ave paid $46.60 to win.
In the second INSS division, Nighthawk Zette, driven and trained by LeWayne Miller, surged late to secure his sixth win of the season.
Calmly out of the gate from post 6, Nighthawk Zettle elected to see the field in front of him from fourth as Woodside Julius (Marcus Miller) led at the first-quarter turn in :27. Bravo Alpha (Trace Tetrick) wasted no time after the turn, transitioning to the helm as he held the advantage to the half-mile mark in :55.4.
The seven-horse field remained unchanged with Bravo Alpha sitting comfortably in the lead to the final turn in 1:24.4. Working his way from the back, Nighthawk Zette chased down the leader as he picked off Swan Jayden (Jordan Ross) and Woodside Julius. Taking aim at Bravo Alpha, Nighthawk Zette trotted his last quarter in :27.2 as he nailed the leader at the wire by a quarter-length in 1:53.2. Bravo Alpha settled for second, while Woodside Julius claimed third.
Nighthawk Zette improved his lifetime earnings to $88,020. Owned by L&S Racing, Lyndar Stables, and Richard Freese, Nighthawk Zette was bred by Cozette McAvoy.
Friday’s (Aug. 21) 14-race card features a host of INSS action with the fourth leg for 2-year-old female trotters, third leg for the 2-year-old male pacers, and the seventh leg for 3-year-old male pacers. The Friday card offers the $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High-5, done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program.