Anderson, IN — Sophomore pacing colts & geldings were the featured attraction at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Aug. 16), as they squared off in round five of Indiana Sires Stakes action. Two $50,000 divisions were sent postward on the evening’s 13-race card and delivered strong performances from each field. Little Rocket Man and Rockie Got Framed rebounded gamely in their respective divisions after tasting defeat in their last starts. 

After an off-the-board finish in his last Sires Stakes engagement, Little Rocket Man bounced back impressively to score in 1:49 with driver Trace Tetrick. Sent off as the heavy post-time favorite, Little Rocket Man came flying late in the lane and got up in the final strides of the mile to establish a new lifetime mark.

Little Rocket Man came from off the pace to win a division of the Indiana Sire Stakes in 1:49. Linscott Photo

When the gate opened, Peter Dalt and Andy Shetler grabbed the lead while Pure Rock and Rick Plano also left quickly and looked to be in-line for a two-hole trip. Opting out of the pocket seat, Pure Rock moved to the front through the opening quarter in :25:4 while Little Rocket Man was along the rail in sixth. When the field reached the half in :53:0, Jagger Rocks and Sam Widger took command and held their position through the third quarter clocking in 1:20.2. 

As the field turned for home, Pure Rock was upset-minded and tipped from the pocket to engage the leader. Brooklets Banner and Dale Hiteman were also on the attack, first-over with Little Rocket Man in tow. As the quick pace began to take its toll on the leaders, Tetrick tipped Little Rocket Man around tiring cover and surged forward. Using a final quarter of :27.2, Little Rocket Man dug in gamely to win a four-horse photo. A head separated the top three finishers in the field as Ollie’s Ztam and Ricky Macomber Jr. also rallied well late for second and Pure Rock held on for third. Little Rocket Man paid $2.80 to win at the betting windows.  

“We really didn’t know what we were getting into with him at the start of the season,” trainer Melissa Essig noted in the winner’s circle with a bit of a laugh. “We had no idea he would be the colt that he is today. He’s very active but I’ll be honest, he sometimes makes you want to pull your hair out. He’s just turned into an awesome colt.” 

Little Rocket Man has now won nine of 12-lifetime starts and sent his lifetime earnings over the $100,00 mark with the win. The son of Rockin Image-Gt Miss Royal is owned by Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman and was bred by Victory Hill Farm. 

The second division of stakes action brought a win home for Team Macomber as Rockie Got Framed used similar off-the-pace tactics to score his third Indiana Sires Stakes win in a row. Stopping the timer in 1:49.3, Rockie Got Framed provided a slight upset over the heavily favorited Melissa Essig trainee, Shamwow. 

When the wings of the gate opened it was Shark Play and Sam Widger who were the first to get a call and powered to the front. Shark Play was followed closely by Tellmeaboutit with Dale Hiteman while Rockie Got Framed and Ricky Macomber Jr. protected their rail position just enough to settle along the rail in third. The field continued in straight formation through opening fractions of :26:2 and :55:0.

Team Macomber scored a win during Indiana Sire Stakes action Friday (Aug. 16) with Rockie Got Framed, winning in 1:49.3. Linscott Photo.

As the field approached the three-quarters in 1:22:4, Todd Warren had Shamwow on the attack first-over while Rockie Got Framed was waiting for the homestretch to make his game-winning move. Shamwow was able to overtake Shark Play turning for home but the rest of the field was looming large in the background. Employing a :26.1 final panel, Rockie Got Framed launched up from fifth to find the wire first and stop the clock in 1:49:3. Shamwow held on for second while Tellmeaboutit found late racing room and got up for third. Sent off at odds of 5-2, Rockie Got Framed paid $7.00 for his betting backers.

“I wanted to be up close but I didn’t want to have to use him too hard too early,” Macomber noted after the victory. “He’s been racing incredible. He raced great last week but just had too far to come. I knew if I could catch a breather tonight, he would pace hard to the wire, he always does.”

Rockie Got Framed, the son of Rockin Image-Carousel Frame, is trained by Jamie Macomber and has now won seven of 25-lifetime starts. With the win, he now sports a lifetime bankroll of $141,356 for owners Rocco Ruffolo and the Eleven Star Stables. Rockie Got Framed was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. The victory was one of two training wins on the program for Jamie Macomber and one of four driving wins on the evening for Ricky Macomber Jr.

Trainer Dylan Davis also had a training victory on the evening’s 13-race card to record his 2,000 career training win. With 1,999 training wins to his credit heading into the program, Jin’s Shark was able to find the winner’s circle in the evening’s sixth race on the card and give Davis win number 2,000.

Davis recorded his first training win in 1996 and has since trained the winners of over $22 million in purse earnings. With 29 wins through 99 nights of live racing action, Davis is among the top ten trainers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this season. Davis also trains Castle Flight who equaled the overall track record at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 1:47.2 score in the Open Pace earlier this season.

With a daily post time of 6:30 pm, live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 9.  For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.