from Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN — Tawesome More made her debut a winning one on Tuesday, August 17, cruising to a 1:58 victory in the $50,000 Circle City for 2-year-old filly trotters at Indiana Downs.

The 1-2 favorite, guided by Andy Miller for trainer Tony Alagna, crossed the wire 4-1/4 lengths in front of Finaltab Hanover and Ricky Macomber. Always Yours, driven by trainer Dan Shetler, finished third.

Bred by Perretti Farms, the Muscles Yankee-Toss Up filly came into Tuesday’s contest after two qualifying efforts at the Meadowlands. The freshman won in 1:59.1 on July 17 before finishing second in 1:57.3 the last time out July 29.

“She handled the two qualifiers very professional and she gate schooled before that,” Alagna said. “We shipped her to Lexington last Friday so that she had a quick trip up here.”

Despite drawing the outside post in the field of nine, Tawesome More was forwardly placed by Miller when the gate folded. Finaltab Hanover, leaving from post eight, took the early lead, clicking off a :29.2 opening panel, with the favorite in tow after an early break by Clock Work. Miller didn’t sit in the hole long with the filly, taking command racing to the 1:00.4 opening half.

“I just wanted to get away clean. I kind of had to check her up a little bit but that didn’t bother her,” Miller noted. “She’s pretty versatile. She felt good; she just coasted the rest of the way.”

Once on the front, Tawesome More made it look easy, passing three-quarters in 1:30.2 before drawing away at the wire.

The filly will look to go two-for-two at Indiana Downs next Wednesday, August 25, in the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes. Earlier in the day track management announced that the stake, originally slated for August 24, will be pushed back to allow the completion of work on the racing surface.

“She’s always been scheduled to make her first start here and she stayed on schedule,” Alagna stated. “That was my whole thing, to get a start before the Kentuckiana.”

The Shelbyville track also featured the second round of Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers Tuesday. Dark Alley Sally ran her winning streak to eight races with a 1:53.4 performance in the second race on the program. Driven by Josh Sutton, the Third Straight filly wired the field in the $40,000 contest, winning by 1-1/2 lengths. Longshot Playgirl Interlude paced second with Straitequilanite rounding out the trifecta.

Owned by Steve and Tammy Carter, the filly pushed her seasonal earnings to $198,000 in 17 starts. Trained by Steve Carter, Dark Alley Sally equaled her lifetime best in the victory.

While the heavy favorite scored in the first division, 50-1 shot GD Lana keyed a big upset in the second split for trainer Dan Perdue. Driven by Trace Tetrick, the daughter of Kilowatt paid $113.80 in her first seasonal win, stopping the clock in 1:54. Followed across the wire by Townline Kenya (9-1) and Hana Bluegrass (60-1), the exacta returned $560.40 while the trifecta returned a whopping $8,328.60. GD Lana is owned by Lewis Dickerhoof.

Ultimate Velocity picked up a one length victory in the $21,000 Filly and Mare Invitational Tuesday. The victory was the eighth of the season for the Western Ideal 4-year-old. Owned by Ken Stohler and the Trent Stohler Stable, Inc., Ultimate Velocity equaled her lifetime best with a 1:51.1 performance. The time fell one-fifth of a second short of the track record.