Anderson, IN — Sabonis extended his winning streak to 13 and Lets Go Endofaera clincher her seventh consecutive victory in their respective final-leg Indiana Sires Stakes events for 3-year-old pacers on Friday (Oct. 4) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
The 1-20 favorite in his $50,500 division, Sabonis and regular pilot Joey Putnam left from post five in the field of eight. Noblesville, sent off at 43-1, rocketed to the front from post eight entering the first turn with Sabonis settling in fifth through a :26.1 first quarter. M-M-s Bud worked around Noblesville on the backstretch, leading the field to the halfway point in :55.1. Sabonis flushed the cover of Packedwithluck, who started the outer flow, charging into second with M-M-s Bud continuing to lead to three-quarters in 1:23. Perfectly positioned second-over, Sabonis surged off cover at the top of the lane, pacing home in :26.3 with his earplugs still in by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1. Noblesville rallied up the passing lane for second’ M-M-s Bud held for third.
A winner in 16 of 17 races this season, Sabonis is trained by Aaron Stutzman for owner Pat Miller. Sporting earnings of $471,000 this season, Sabonis has not tasted defeat since May 3 and he now looks to the $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final next Friday (Oct. 11) as part of Hoosier Champions night.
Lets Go Endofaera left little suspense regarding her win streak, scoring in front-end fashion in her $49,500 Sires Stakes division for pacing fillies.
The bettors’ choice at 1-20, Lets Go Endofaera and driver John DeLong landed in the pocket on the first turn, sitting behind Flirtin Fanera through a quarter of :27.1. Lets Go Endofaera vacated the pocket to move to the lead on the backstretch, backing the pace down considerably to the half in :57.4. Galley’s Image tipped from third on the final turn, spotting Lets Go Endofaera 1-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. The sprint for home commenced with Galley’s Image in hot pursuit of the favorite, but Lets Go Endofaera was not to be caught, pacing home in :25.3 to reach the wire three parts of a length in front in 1:52. Lyin’ Eyes closed for third.
The divisional champion last year at 2, Lets Go Endofaera has backed up her star rookie campaign by winning nine of 10 starts in 2024 for trainer Tabby DeLong. Jesse DeLong bred and co-owns the daughter of JK Endofaera-Let’s Go Higher along with John and William DeLong. Having earned $292,140 so far this year, Lets Go Endofaera enters next week’s Super Final just shy of $600,000 in career earnings.
DeLong homebreds swept the 3-year-old filly pace as Teelatini sizzled to a career-best effort with driver Trace Tetrick a race prior in the $49,500 first division.
Teelatini got away third early with Defining Moment jumping out to an early lead to cut the quarter in :27. Tetrick moved the 2-5 favorite to the lead on the backstretch, assuming command before reaching the half in :55.2. Teelatini looked to give the field the slip on the final turn, opening up by 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:23. The lead widened to 4-1/2 lengths midway through the lane before Jada Caroline staged a late rally to close the gap, but not before Teelatini crossed the wire 1-1/2 lengths clear in 1:49.4. All JK rounded out the trifecta.
Since joining leading trainer Tyler George’s barn in September, Teelatini has won two of three starts, with her lone defeat being a runner-up finish to Lets Go Endofaera in the $75,000 Carl Becker Memorial. Bred by owners William and Patrick DeLong, Teelatini has won four of 12 races in her 3-year-old campaign with earnings of $129,306. The victory was the 10th of the career for the daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap, who went just over $400,000 in lifetime earnings.
Trace Tetrick snagged to other $50,500 division for male pacers as well, surging late up the pylons with Martz Telly for a mild 6-1 upset.
Play Action Pass hustled to the lead at 11-1 through a hot opening quarter of :26.1 while Martz Telly got away foruth in the field of eight. Play Action Pass had things his way to the half in :55 before leading to three-quarters in 1:23 with Martz Telly shuffled and pinned to the cones in fifth. Turning for home, the race appeared to be between Play Action Pass and Dale Yea, who popped the pocket and set his sights on the leader before Martz Telly found a seam up the passing lane to make it a three horse battle. Surging home in :25.3, Martz Telly timed his move just right, nosing out Dale Yea for the victory in 1:49.3, with Play Action Pass just a head back in third.
Martz Telly took nearly two full seconds off of his career mark with his second win of 2024 in 12 outings. Trained by Ron Burke, Martz Telly has made $56,400 on the season and now over $250,000 in his career for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Frank Baldachino and Weaver Bruscemi.
In other Sires Stakes action on the card, Walkin On Sunshine converted a pocket trip to take the $20,000 ISS prep for older pacing mares in 1:50.1, while Flagman tracked down Ponda Jet in 1:52 to take the $20,000 ISS prep for older male trotters.
Racing action concludes for the week on Saturday (Oct. 5) with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. The card gets underway with a $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Early Pick-5 (races 1-5) featuring a carryover of $2,266.69. Free programs are available for Saturday’s card on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website.
For more information on the 2024 live racing season, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.