Anderson, IN – With Hall of Fame driver David Miller in to drive, Little Rocket Man put his grit on full display as the duo teamed up to take down the $22,000 Open Pace on Friday (March 6) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the classy 10-year-old boosting his career bankroll beyond the $2 million threshold in the process.
Saddled with the outside post seven as the 2-5 favorite, Little Rocket Man blitzed to the front, working around Ardens Ace N (LeWayne Miller) before releasing a revved-up Noblesville (Marcus Miller) to the point just beyond a hotly contested :26.1 opening split. Noblesville remained in control of the field on the backstretch, riding the tailwind to the halfway point in :54.2, with Little Rocket Man stalking intently from the pocket. Little Rocket Man was forced to pull from second entering the final turn as Ardens Ace N tipped from third, with the race favorite quickly moving within a half-length of Noblesville on the outside at three-quarters in 1:23.3.
Spinning into the stretch, Little Rocket Man put away Noblesville before bracing for the challenge of Ardens Ace N, who took aim off the favorite’s cover. The two slugged it out to the wire from there, with Little Rocket Man proving to be game with a :26.3 final quarter to fend off Ardens Ace by a quarter-length on the line, stopping the timer in 1:50.1. Im Skinnydipin N (Trace Tetrick) navigated traffic to rally for third, with Yourwishisgranted (Atlee Bender) rallying from last to round out the super.
Trained by Ken Rucker, Little Rocket Man has won three straight and four of seven thus far in 2026 for owners Russ Beeman and Boomer Freeman. The gelded son of Rockin Image-GT Miss Royal has won 83 of 149 career starts, hitting the board 113 times while boasting a gaudy bankroll of $2,004,204. Bred by Victory Hill Farm, Little Rocket Man is just the third Indiana-sired pacer to cross the $2 million threshold, along with former Horses of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit and Always B Miki.
Earlier in the program driver Brandon Bates steered three Walter Haynes Jr. trainees to the winner’s circle, headlined by Drink Up Drink Up in the $22,000 Open Trot.
Bates took back with Drink Up Drink Up in the early stages, landing in the fifth position from post three while Flagman (Rick Plano) grabbed early command from the far outside through an opening quarter in :27. With last week’s winner and stablemate Famous Father (Luke Plano) drafting along from the pocket, Flagman reached the midway point in :56 before taking the field to the far turn. Flagman began to open up on the field rounding the final bend, assuming a three-length lead at three-quarters in 1:24.3 while Drink Up Drink Up moved into fourth from first-over, 7-1/2 lengths back of the leader.
The lead for Flagman began to dwindle at the head of the lane, with Famous Father and Drink Up Drink Up beginning to swarm the tiring leader. Sprinting home in :27.4, Drink Up Drink Up rallied by the Plano trainees, facing one final challenge from a hard-charging Dover In Motion (Ricky Macomber Jr.), who towered up from the backfield. Drink Up Drink Up held Dover In Motion at bay by a half-length in 1:53.4, with Famous Father holding sway for the show spot.
Owned by Adam Friedland and Brian Carsey, the victory was the first in his second try this season for Drink Up Drink Up. The 6-year-old gelded son of Trixton-Homefortheholidays has won 20 of 82 lifetime, sporting career earnings of $370,658.
Bates also teamed up with Haynes to take the opening race on the program with Rogers Image ($6, 1:55.1) as well as the eighth race on the evening with Low Rider ($7.20, 1:53.2)
“Big Ticket” Bates tacked on one more at the conclusion of the evening, taking the finale with 36-1 shot Fox Valley Langley ($75.40, 1:52.4) for trainer Jamaica Patton and triggering a Hoosier High-5 carryover into Thursday’s (March 12) program. The Early High-5 (Race 7) on Thursday will feature a carryover of $13,943, with that pool being guaranteed at $40,000. There will also be an Early Pick-5 (races 1-5) carryover of $1,991 on Thursday, with that pool guaranteed at $10,000.
The Thursday night program will get underway at 5:30 p.m. (ET), and in addition to the carryovers will feature a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 on the final four races of the card, and $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High-5 on the night’s final race, with those offers done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program.
For more information on the 2026 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.