by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to eight $20,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts on Friday (June 27) and the 2014 crop of freshman colts opened their series in impressive fashion.

Kelly D and Trace Tetrick won in 1:53.2 in the opening round of ISS action.

Kelly D and Trace Tetrick kicked off the evening as they scored their second consecutive victory in 1:53.2 in the opening round of the stakes action. The score bested his career mark from last week by nearly two seconds and lowered the national season’s record for 2-year-old pacers. The previous mark of 1:53.3 was established just one night earlier at Hoosier Park by Tyler Smith and Can’t Touch Her in Indiana Sires Stakes action for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Using the same front-running tactics from the previous week, Kelly D left alertly from post three and was able to dictate early fractions of :26.4 and :55.4. As the field reached the third station, Franzo and Tyler Smith pressed the leader from the outer flow while a host of others began to close in from behind.

Tetrick asked the son of Panspacificflight-U Olive for more and Kelly D found another gear, pacing on to the wire to finish three lengths to the good. Rockin Ron closed nicely to finish second for Ed Hensley while Franzo held on for third.

As the heavy betting favorite, Kelly D returned $3.20 at the windows for the victory. Trained by Tom Simmons, Kelly D has now won both of his starts at two for owner/breeder Larry Breed.

Linscott Photography

Harfo Hanover and Tyler Smith lowered the national season’s record for 2-year-old pacers with their 1:53 score.

Just a few races later, Harfo Hanover began his career impressively, using the same front-running tactics to score in 1:53 in his split of the stakes action and lowered the national season’s record for 2-year-old pacers once more. Driven by Tyler Smith, Harfo Hanover dictated fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before pacing on to the wire to win by seven lengths.

As the public’s second choice, Harfo Hanover returned $8.80 to his backers at the betting window. Trained by Jeff Cullipher, the son of Always A Virgin-Harlow Hall made his career debut a winning one for owners Randall Bendis, William Varney and Reed Broadway.

In the very next split of the 2-year-old pacing colt action, Camturo Rock (Rockin Image-Camturo) used a late kick to win impressively from off the pace in 1:53. The son of Rockin Image was able to track down Ima Full Time Job and Sam Widger late in the lane to score his first win of the season in his career debut.

Slightly dismissed at the betting windows at 8-1, Camturo Rock returned $19.20 for the victory. Trained by Dirk Simpson and driven by Dave Magee, Camturo Rock is owned by Desyllas Racing, William Beck and Carol Rieken.

Each of the winners from the eight Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations earned a spot in the first of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings slated for July 5 at Hoosier Park.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (June 28) with four $20,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts. The live racing schedule at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:15 p.m.