Anderson, IN – Indiana Sire Stakes dominated the proceedings on Wednesday (July 29) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with a pair of divisions for both the rookie pacing colts and sophomore trotting fillies.
Dr Drake and Mr Bear scored in their $65,500 divisions for pacing colts, while Bluebird Kazoom and For Dayze were dominant in their respective splits for trotting fillies.
Dr Drake kicked off the stakes action on the evening, scoring on the front end as the 6-1 third choice with Trace Tetrick aboard for trainer Jeff Cullipher.
Away from post five, Tetrick wasted no time getting to the front, cruising around Nu Chex To Cash (Anthony Miller) as he blitzed to the quarter in :26.4. The field raced single-file to the half in :56.1, before the 1-5 favorite, Tell Me It’s You (John De Long), tipped first-over from third. The favorite raced greenly on the far turn, drifting wide in fourth as Dr Drake continued the charge on the engine to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Dr Drake faced a two-pronged attack in the lane, with Nu Chex To Cash racing to his outside and 50-1 longshot Tell’sfirstglimpse (Atlee Bender) splitting horses to make it a three-across battle. Dr Drake held sway to the wire, fending off Nu Chex To Cash by a neck with Tell’sfirstglimpse just a half-length back as the mile was completed in 1:51.2.
Owned by Jeff Cullipher and Pollack Racing, Dr Drake has won each of his last two after an eighth-place effort in his career debut.
The Rockin Image-Northern Beauty colt was bred by Merle Yoder and sports a career bankroll of $38,750 following the career best effort.
In the second division for pacing colts, Mr Bear delivered as the 1-9 favorite following an early miscue with Marcus Miller in the bike for father, Erv.
Leaving from the rail in the field of seven, Mr Bear took a bad step and briefly went off-stride before gathering himself and settling in sixth as This Captain Rocks (Robert Taylor) led the field to the quarter in :27.2. This Captain Rocks grabbed leather to the half, reaching that point in :57.1 before Another Mile Again (Trace Tetrick) blitzed to the lead from third entering the far turn. Another Mile Again raced two lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:25.1 while Mr Bear began his long first-over charge from fifth, still with 7-1/2 lengths to make up. Mr Bear would make up that deficit in a hurry, uncorking a vicious :25.2 stretch rally to blitz to the front and open up on the field by two lengths on the wire in 1:52. Another Mile Again was second, with his Ron Burke stablemate, Ponda Spice (Atlee Bender), grabbing third.
Now four-for-four to begin his career, My Bear boasts a bankroll of $77,500. The gray gelded son of Rockin Image-Mama’s Lil Beach was bred by Mark Adams and Timothy Sullivan, and owned by Ervin Miller Stable, D&M Trading Ii, Levi Bontrager and Laura Perniciaro.
Bluebird Kazoom driven by Jordan Ross for trainer Henry Graber Jr. cruised to a dominant victory to take the $48,500 first division for 3-year-old trotting fillies.
In a battle early out of post one, Bluebird Kazoom was put to the task of fending off Make It Spicy (Trace Tetrick) and the post time favorite Fresh Face Yankee (Jay Cross). Bluebird Kazoom remained at the helm to the first turn in :27.1 as Fresh Face Yankee advanced on the outside before making a break alongside Bluebird Kazoom. At the half in :56.4, Bluebird Kazoom led the field with Make It Spicy in close pursuit, and Fresh Face Yankee rejoining the field in last. Bluebird Kazoom remained in firm control at three-quarters 1:26.2 as Fresh Face Yankee began a three-wide rally from the backfield. Powering down the stretch, Bluebird Kazoom opened up the lead to the wire in 1:53.3 by 3-1/4 lengths on the line. Fresh Face Yankee rebounded into second, while Make It Spicy held for third.
Bluebird Kazoom is owned by Hillside Stables, Indiana Stables LLC, Hickory Hollow Stables, and Michael Rosenthal. The 3-year-old Swan For All-Stella Kemp filly was bred by Delvin Miller, Kenneth Bontrager, and Daryl Miller. Bluebird Kazoom tallied her ninth win of the year for a lifetime earnings total of $134,725. Bluebird Kazoom paid $6.60 to win.
Never a doubt in the 11th race as For Dayze driven by John De Long for trainer Roger Welch was all business winning the $49,000 second division for trotting fillies at 1-5.
Patient out of post seven, For Dayze slid toward the middle of the field into fifth at the start while Homesweethome (Jordan Ross) found the lead the quickest to the first turn in :27.2. Keeping up with the leader, Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) trotted from second with Honeymoon (Trace Tetrick) followed in third. Racing single file, Homesweethome stayed in command to the halfway pole in :56.4. Nearing the turn, Honeymoon led the charge on the leader with For Dayze following the live tow of Honeymoon. Homesweethome held on by a thread to the third turn in 1:26.2 as it was only a matter of time before Honeymoon, Help Cum Laude, and For Dayze blazed past the leader. Wasting no time in the homestretch, For Dayze separated from the challengers surging past the field to the wire in 1:53.4 by 1-1/2 lengths. Help Cum Laude powered into second along the cones, with Expressive Gal (Kyle Wilfong) rallying into third.
The 3-year-old filly, For Dayze added her fourth win of the year, boosting her lifetime earnings to $364,460. For Dayze is owned by William De Long and Wm Patrick De Long, while being bred by Ernie Lambright.
Racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Thursday, July 30 with a 14-race program set to begin at 5:30 p.m. The $94,500 sixth leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing colts serves as race four on the evening featuring Aces And Cinches and Swiss Lights, while the $96,500 fifth leg for 3-year-old trotting colts goes as race nine with Dan D Man Can looking to remain unbeaten on the year. The Thursday program also features the traditional $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick-4 (races 11-14) and Late High-5 (race 14) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.
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