by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IND — Three divisions of $20,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighted the 14-race card at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (May 28) and the sophomore colts opened their series in impressive fashion. Matrix of Luck, the Hoosier state’s 2-year-old pacing colt champion, returned to his winnings ways to score in 1:50.3, the fastest division of the evening.

Indiana champion Matrix of Luck sets a new lifetime mark of 1:50.3 with his first win of 2016 in a $20,000 Sire Stakes elimination.

With Mike Peterson at the lines, Matrix of Luck protected his rail position and was sent away from the gate firing through an opening panel in :27. Mgsperkg Bluegrass and Tyler Smith grabbed a pocket seat while Downthehighwy and Jason Dillander were next in line third. Matrix of Luck went uncontested through splits of :55.1 and 1:23.1, but saved his best for last.

As the field turned for home, Uncmprmising Z Tam and LeWayne Miller were the first to commit to the outer flow and take aim at the leader. Mgsperkg Bluegrass tipped from the pocket but Matrix of Luck was too strong. Using a :27.2 final quarter, Matrix of Luck finished four lengths to the good over Mgsperkg Bluegrass and Uncmprmsing Z Tam.

Owned by Brian Carsey, John McGill, and Debbie Cullipher, Matrix of Luck scored the first win of his 3-year-old season from two starts and eighth lifetime win. Trained by Roger Cullipher, the son of Rockin Image-My Taylor’s Maid also established a new lifetime mark with the victory.

In the next division, Bourbon Chase recorded his first stakes victory to remain perfect in three starts this season, scoring tonight in 1:51.2. Driven and trained by Dan Shetler, Bourbon Chase made his game winning move down the backside and used a :27.2 final quarter to secure the win over Shocking Image and Trace Tetrick.

Images courtesy of Linscott Photography

Bourbon Chase remains a perfect 3 for 3 in his young career.

The homebred son of Palone Ranger-Stonebridge Beauty was unraced at two but has won all three of his lifetime outings at three. Owned by Dan Shelter and Kristin Shetler, Bourbon Chase has now earned $20,500 lifetime.

Ville Valo and Ricky Macomber Jr. turned in a gritty, front-running effort to take the third split of the stakes action in 1:51.2. It was the second consecutive victory for the Ron Burke trainee who also established a new lifetime mark with the triumph.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and P. Collura, Ville Valo has now won three of seven seasonal starts while bankrolling $22,310 in 2016. The gelded son of Real Desire-Pleasantville has now won six of 17 career outings.

Each of the divisional winners from the three Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations earned a spot in the first of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings slated for Saturday (June 4) at Hoosier Park.

The 2016 Indiana Sires Stakes program will feature five legs throughout the season, and from each leg, the top 20 horses will return to compete in a final and consolation. The stakes program will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on Saturday (October 15) at Hoosier Park.

Live racing will return to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday (May 31) with a 14-race card. The 160-day, all harness racing meet will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:45 p.m.