by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Red Hot Herbie, with Derek Hooley at the lines, shattered his own track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings when he powered home a winner in 1:54.3 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday (July 11).

Linscott Photography

Red Hot Herbie scored in a track record clocking of 1:54.3.

Notching his fourth win of the season, Red Hot Herbie captured the final round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, in a lifetime best effort. He established the previous record of 1:55 on June 19, breaking a record for 3-year-old trotting geldings that stood for 12 years. The 1:54.3. victory marks the seventh track record that has been lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths-mile oval in 2013.

Red Hot Herbie, with Hooley at the lines for the first time, made every call a winning one as he sprinted to the front from post five through the opening panel in :27.1. Russell Mania and Ed Hensley were well placed in the pocket second while the heavy betting favorite, Super Rock, followed in third.

Red Hot Herbie was able to catch a breather down the backside as he slowed the tempo and reached the half-mile time in :57.3. The field was gapped out down the backside before Charlie Conrad gave Super Rock the green light and was out in the outer flow taking aim at the leader. Red Hot Herbie remained uncontested through the three-quarter split in 1:26.3 as the rest of the field closed in.

Super Rock staged a determined rally down the homestretch but was no match for Red Hot Herbie as he powered home in :28 to finish a length in front. Only Just A Dream and Trace Tetrick used a :27.3 final quarter to march home for second while Super Rock finished a game third. As the public’s second choice, Red Hot Herbie returned $8.60 to his backers.

Trained by Byron Hooley, Red Hot Herbie notched his fourth win from seven outings while bankrolling more than $30,000 this season for his connections of Summit Pacing Acres of Fort Wayne, Ind. Sired by Here Comes Herbie, the 3-year-old gelding has now won six of 22 lifetime starts while amassing more than $57,000 throughout his career.

Red Hot Herbie will be aimed toward the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, slated for Saturday (July 20) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Tagged as “Hoosier Champions Night,” Hoosier Park will play host to a night boasting purses over the $1 million mark.

Live racing resumes at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (July 12) with two divisions of the Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies highlighting the racing card. Hoosier Park will play host to an abbreviated eight-race card as Willie Nelson and Family will continue the Summer Concert Series. The Willie Nelson concert will start after the conclusion of live racing with an estimated start time of 8 p.m.

For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule at Hoosier Park, visit www.hoosierpark.com.