Anderson, IN – Indiana’s finest were out in full force during Hoosier Champions Night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Oct. 10). The 15-race bonanza crowned 12 Indiana Sire Stakes champions, with eight $250,000 Super Finals for 2- and 3-year olds to go with a quartet of $50,000-$70,000 finals for older competitors.
Three-year-old Colt & Gelding Pace
The Super Final action got underway with the glamour boys division and Rock Shines Again delivering a crushing performance to remain undefeated though 13 starts this season.
Driver Trace Tetrick hustled Rock Shines Again off the wings from post five as the 1-9 favorite, parked and pressing to the lead through an opening quarter of :25.4 to the outside of Avanti (Yannick Gingras). Once clear, Rock Shines Again tapped the brakes to a half of :54.1 before giving the field the slip on the far turn, opening up by 4-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:21.4. From there, Rock Shines Again coasted home a winner in the stretch, stopping the timer in 1:49.4. He was 2-1/2 lengths clear of 71-1 shot Special Pete (Atlee Bender) and 73-1 bomber The Family Man (Marcus Miller).
Trained by Tyler George for the T G Stable and Ricky Redder, Rock Shines Again has banked $322,625 on his perfect season after going winless at age 2. Victory Hill Farm bred the Rockin Image-Bikini Star gelding, who paid $2.20 to win.
Two-year-old Filly Trot
After tasting defeat a week ago to Help Cum Laude in the final leg of sire stakes, For Dayze turned the tables on that rival in a thrilling stretch duel to take the rookie filly trot. Leaving from post eight, driver John DeLong floated For Dayze off the wings into sixth early while Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) cut a hot opening quarter of :27. Help Cum Laude rolled to the half in :56.1 before For Dayze marched first-over, racing to the leader’s wheel as the fillies went to three-quarters in 1:26.3.
For Dayze wheeled onto even terms with Help Cum Laude at the top of the stretch when the two fillies dropped the gloves in stretch, slugging it out to the wire with For Dayze just nosing out a gritty Help Cum Laude in a career best 1:54.4. Expressive Gal (David Miller) rallied for the show spot at 30-1, 2-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Roger Welch trains For Dayze for owners William and Patrick DeLong. Bred by Ernie Lambright, the daughter of Swan For All-Southwind Storm has compiled a record of 10-6-3-0 this season while banking $263,000. For Dayze paid $17.40 as a mild 7-1 upsetter.
Two-year-old Filly Pace
Trainer Welch came right back to add another Super Final victory in the next race, this time with 2-year-old pacing filly Whoomp extending her win streak to four with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Tetrick and the 4-5 favorite were away well from the second tier, landing in third as Milliondollarimage (Jordan Ross) took the fillies to the quarter in :27.2. Somemore Blue (Marcus Miller) moved to the lead from the pocket on the backstretch, being tracked by Whoomp who asserted herself to the top at the half in :56.
Whoomp powered to three-quarters in 1:24.1 before delivering a :26.3 knockout blow in the final stanza, cruising by 3-3/4 lengths to win in a career-best 1:50.4. Somemore Blue held for second, with Rock The Charm (John DeLong) finishing third.
William and Patrick DeLong bred and co-own the winning daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap along with Jesse DeLong. Whoomp’s record now stands at 13-8-1-1 with earnings of $349,601 following the victory. She paid $3.60 to win.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts & Geldings
Premier Bluebird and driver Kyle Wilfong towed into from third-over before delivering a stretch rally to score in the 2-year-old male trot. Premier Bluebird got away midpack in fifth early while Sunday Swagger (Marcus Miller) grabbed early command through a quarter of :27.4. Sunday Swagger trotted to a half of :56.3 before Dan D Man Can (Atlee Beder) steamrolled first-over to move alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.4, with Premier Bluebird in tow from fifth.
Dan D Man Can put away Sunday Swagger turning for home before Premier Bluebird gathered up steam, trotting home in :28.1 to roll to the lead and win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.4. Dan D Man Can held sway for second, with Bravo Alpha (Tim Tetrick) shaking loose late for third.
Trained by Zach Miller who also co-owns along with Dessa Miller, Marvin Schwartz and Ted Comerford, Premier Bluebird brought his seasonal record to 13-6-3-0. The effort was a lifetime best for the Pilot Discretion-Winery Hanover colt that was a $4,500 bargain buy at last fall’s Hoosier Classic who has now banked $182,455. Premier Bluebird was bred by Daryl Miller and Dennis Bontrager and paid $12.20 to win.
Three-year-old Trotting Fillies
Miracle Maven delivered a dominant performance in the sophomore filly trot, rewarding the bettors who backed her as the even-money favorite. Miracle Maven and driver John DeLong tucked in the pocket early, racing behind stablemate Better Tak’em, who swept to the top from post nine through a quarter of :27.3. Swan Jewel (Atlee Bender) was unable to find a seat on the first turn before driving to the lead on the backstretch just prior to the half, when Miracle Maven went on the offensive at that point in :56.1. Miracle Maven stormed to the top when DeLong kicked out the plugs and opened up her lead to four lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.3. The lead only grew from there as Miracle Maven romped by 5-1/4 lengths on the wire in 1:53.3 over Martz Seven (Kyle Wilfong) and A Million Dances (Mike Oosting).
Henry Graber Jr. trains the winning daughter of Don’t Let’em-Bad Babysitter for owners Hillside Stables, Indiana Stables, Frank Baldachino and Beasty LLC. Bred by Noah Wickey, Miracle Maven’s record stands at 10-6-1-2 at age 3, earning $292,545 on the year and surpassing $440,000 in career earnings. Miracle Maven paid $4.20 to win.
Two-year-old Pacing Colts & Geldings
World champion Odds On Mr Mamba put an exclamation point on his 2-year-old campaign, following up his world-record performance with a devastating effort as the 1-20 favorite.
Dexter Dunn was once again in the bike, putting Odds On Mr Mamba on the point through an opening quarter of :27.1 before tapping the brakes to the halfway point in :56.2. Dancingdreamer (David Miller) moved first-over to engage the leader on the far turn, pacing into second 1-1/2 lengths back at three-quarters in 1:24.2.
Accelerating quickly on the lead, Odds On Mr Mamba uncorked a :26 final quarter with a motionless Dunn in the bike along for the ride as the favorite moved away from the field by 4-1/4 lengths on the wire in 1:50.2. Pocket-sitter What Nooo Waaay (John DeLong) edged out Dancingdreamer for the second position.
After a fourth-place effort in his debut, Odds On Mr Mamba has reeled off seven straight to conclude his 2-year-old season, racking up $314,405 for owner Odds On Racing, who also bred the Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman gelding. Odds On Mr Mamba is trained by Melanie Wrenn and returned $2.10 to win at the betting windows.
Three-year-old Trotting Colts & Geldings
On To Norway immediately followed suit behind the rookie sensation, delivering his 17th consecutive victory in the 3-year-old colt trot. Leaving from post two, On To Norway got away third with Eugene The Genius (Dexter Dunn) clearing to the top at the quarter in :27.2. DeLong moved On To Norway at the quarter, trotting to the lead on the backstretch before reaching the half in :55.4.
The 1-9 bettors’ choice opened up by 2-1/2 on the way to three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Operator (Kyle Wilfong) racing to the outside of Eugene The Genius in second. On To Norway continued to separate in the stretch, cruising by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:52.2 over Euguene The Genius, who got the better of Operator for second.
On To Norway finished second in his 3-year-old debut before reeling off his 17 straight wins for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal and Black And White Stable. Bennett Farms Inc of MI bred the Muscle Massive-One Class Act gelding, who has earned $426,844 this year and over $450,000 lifetime. On To Norway paid $2.20 to win.
The win was one of five on the night for De Long, who tacked on $50,000 consolation wins with Bellsforall ($73, 1:54) and Saba Rock ($5.40, 1:51.3) to go along with his trio of Super Finals.
Three-year-old Pacing Fillies
Trace Tetrick and Tyler George would bookend the Super Finals on the night, taking the 3-year-old filly pace with Miss Fancy Nancy. Miss Fancy Nancy got away in sixth with CC Rockin Rosie (Yannick Gingras) rocketing to the lead with a :25.3 opening quarter. Tarshish (Marcus Miller) popped the pocket and assumed the lead prior to the half of :55.4 before she opened up by five on the far turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:23.4 while Miss Fancy Nancy had 6-1/4 to make up from second-over in fifth.
The strides of Tarshish began to shorten in the stretch while Miss Fancy Nancy picked up steam, motoring home in :27.1 to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. Wunderkindbluechip (Atlee Bender) rallied for second at 25-1, with Vel Cinderella (Kyle Wilfong) finishing third.
Tonya Nichols, Joe Sbrocco, VIP Internet Stable and JAF Racing own the winning daughter of JK Endofanera-Singit Like Aretha. Miss Fancy Nancy has won eight of 14 at 3 after going winless at 2, banking $264,275 this season. Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder bred the winner, who paid $6.20 to win.
Older Finals
Trace Tetrick and George also tacked on an older final, winning the Mare Pace in front-end fashion with Rollin Rosie ($4.20) over Kobe’s Gigi (Yannick Gingras) and Teelatini (JohnDe Long) in 1:50.2. It was the first Sire Stakes title for the 5-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera-Rock N Roll Baby, who has earned $710,080 in her career for owners SCP Stable, Tyler George and Greg Samples.
The night got underway with Ponda Jet ($3) picking up his first Sire Stakes title with a wire-to-wire 3-3/4 length romp over Flagman (Luke Plano) and Helpfirstedition (David Miller) in 1:51.3 to take the $70,000 final for older male trotters. Jay Hochsteter trains the 5-year-old gelded son of Dover Dan-Ponda’s Lucky Lady, who has banked $746,132 for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz.
Yo Beth D ($7.60) overcame the second tier and spotting M-M’s Dream (Yannick Gingras) 5-1/2 lengths at three-quarters to take the $50,000 Mare Trot in 1:53.2 for trainer Ken Rucker. M-M’s Dream held for second with Country Mamma (David Miller) finishing third. Yo Beth D earned the second Sire Stakes crown of her career, and the 5-year-old daughter of Helpisontheway-Scented Roses boasts lifetime earnings of $594,050 for owner Twoforone Stable.
Buzzsaw Russ (4.40) and Dexter Dunn followed suit with a 1:48.4 pocket-rocket score in the $50,000 final for older male pacers over Coach Stefanos (Marcus Miller) and M-M-s Bud (Jay Cross) for his second Sire Stakes title. Trained by Missy Essig for owners Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver, the winning 5-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser has banked $829,754 lifetime.
Racing concludes for the week at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday (Oct. 11) with a 14-race card set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. The Saturday card will feature five $50,000 Indiana Sire Stakes consolations, with a free program available on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.