Anderson, IN — After sweeping Indiana Sire Stakes action the night before with the freshman pacing fillies, trainer Erv Miller would once again prove unstoppable with the rookie pacing colts. Two divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighted the card on Thursday (July 28) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as the Tetrick-Miller combo completed a clean sweep of the stakes action for 2-year-old pacers.

J B Gram kicked things off with an eye-catching performance in the $68,000 first division. Dean Gillette Photography.

J B Gram kicked things off with an eye-catching performance in the $68,000 first division. Leaving from the outside post seven, driver Trace Tetrick hustled J B Gram off the wings of the gate, striking the lead through a fast-opening panel of :26.3 outside of Art It Is and Brandon Bates.

J B Gram and Tetrick cleared to the front up the backstretch and to the halfway point in :54.3 before reaching three- quarters in 1:23.3. Utilizing a :26.3 final quarter, J B Gram would fend off the two-pronged attack of Art It Is and Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long), crossing the line nearly two lengths in front in 1:50.1. Art It Is finished third and was placed second following a bobble made by Buzzsaw Russ at the line who would be placed third.

Trained by Erv Miller, it was the second win in as many starts in the young career for J B Gram. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis out of the Incredible Finale mare Faith Leigh has now banked $39,000 for owners Jerry, Thomas Jr. and J D Graham. Frontier Farms was the breeder.

The $68,500 second division would prove to be a similar story with Miller and Tetrick teaming up once more, this time with the heavily favored Coach Stefanos who looked to rebound off a miscue in leg one.

Starting from the four-hole, Tetrick steered Coach Stefanos to mid pack in fifth as Why Not Now and Peter Wrenn cut out the opening quarter in :28. Tetrick put Coach Stefanos into play up the backstretch, steadily working his way into fourth at the half in :57.4 before taking command at the three-quarter station in 1:27. In the lane, Coach Stefanos fought off his stablemate, Frankie Frankie and Atlee Bender, with a :25.3 final fraction to score the victory by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. Flirtin JK and Ricky Macomber Jr. rounded out the trifecta.

It was the third win in four career starts for Coach Stefanos who has now earned $49,250 for owners Kenneth Duffy, D & M Trading II and John Chris Stefanos. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Watch N Be Watched was bred by Indiana’s leading breeder, Victory Hill Farm.

Racing continues on Friday (July 29) with a 14-race card, followed by the third annual Empire of Hope fundraiser event benefitting the Standardbred Transition Alliance on Saturday (July 30). Guests can enjoy family fun entertainment as well as a host of donation opportunities with all proceeds going directly to the Standardbred Transition Alliance. For more information on the live racing season and Empire of Hope, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.