by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — The 2018 Indiana Sires Stakes program will culminate at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (Oct. 12) with the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals. The star-studded 14-race card will showcase the best trotters and pacers in the state of Indiana and provide an exciting conclusion to the 2018 Indiana stakes season.

Linscott Photography

Katkin Americansquares off against divisional rival Fiftydallarbill in the $220,000 ISS SuperFinal for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

With purses in excess of $2 million, the Indiana Sires Stakes Super night will be the richest night offered in the Indiana Sires Stakes program this season featuring eight $220,000 finals. The 2-and 3-year-olds competing in the Super finals have accumulated points throughout the season, based on performance in the previous $75,000 finals, and the top point earners have earned the right to seek glory in the $220,000 finals. Complimenting the program will be four divisions for the older competitors, each carrying a purse of $50,000.

The $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals will start in the third race on the program with a field of 10 2-year-old pacing fillies. Divisional leader Glorious Virgin and Hoosier Park’s leading driver Trace Tetrick have been enlisted as the 8-5 morning line choice and will start from post five. The daughter of Always A Virgin-Bound For Glory is trained by Shane Bowermaster and has won seven of 10 starts while bankrolling $185,250 this season.

Driver Yannick Gingras will venture back to Hoosier Park to steer the 4-5 morning line choice, Swandre The Giant, from post eight in the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Now trained by Jimmy Takter, Swandre The Giant remains undefeated in stakes action at Hoosier Park this season and is currently riding a two-race win streak. Swandre The Giant will be one of seven drives on the program for Gingras who is currently the second leading driver in the country based on wins.

The $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for 3-year-old trotting colts will feature an exciting match-up between rookie, divisional leader, Katkin American and the 2017 Breeders Crown Champion, Fiftydallarbill. Fiftydallarbill will play the role of morning-line favorite and will start from the coveted rail position with Trace Tetrick in the bike. Katkin American will start from post five with regular pilot James Yoder in the sulky.

The sophomore pacing sensation Always A Prince will put his five-race winning streak on the line facing nine other rivals in the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Trained by Tyler George and driven by Trace Tetrick, the son of Always A Virgin-Glorious Princess has won 16 of 19 starts this season and will start from the trailing post position 10 as the 4-5 morning line choice.

In addition to all of the exciting races on the track, there will be a multitude of activities for racing fans to enjoy off the track. Hoosier Park and the Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA) have once again partnered to offer numerous giveaways and live entertainment throughout the evening.

A $5,000 Indiana Sires Stakes handicapping contest will be offered for racing fans on-track with a top prize of $2,500. Registration for the handicapping contest is free but limited to the first 300 guests. Registration will begin at 2 p.m.

The first race will line-up behind the gate at 6:30 p.m. Friday’s stakes filled card is part of Hoosier Park’s 2018 Championship Meet, which features a $5 million stakes schedule. The 12-week championship stretch, which kicked off on Friday, (Aug. 10) with the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes, will offer an unparalleled series of high caliber stakes races. To view all of the entries for Friday’s 14-race card, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.