Anderson, IN — Indiana’s top three-year-old pacing colts were the featured attraction at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino as they squared off the seventh round of preliminary stakes action on Friday (Sept. 17).

Virgo and Trace Tetrick equaled the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 1:48.3 effort in stakes action. Dean Gillette Photography.

Divisional leader Virgo powered home a winner in 1:48.3 to score his second consecutive victory and equal the track record for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Virgo now co-holds the record with stakes winners Always A Prince, Sandbetweenmytoes, and Tellmeaboutit.

Driver Trace Tetrick asked Virgo to leave just enough to get a spot along the rail in fourth. Virgo was moved to the outer flow down the backside, and he quickly marched up to match strides with the leader. Turning for home, Tetrick asked Virgo for more, and he responded to the tune of a :26.1 closing quarter and opened up on the field by two lengths. Roll Em (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallied well late but settled for second while Ultimaroca (Chris Page) was third.

Virgo has now won seven of 19 lifetime outings and four of 10 this season with the victory. The gelded son of Always A Virgin-Star of The Show pushed his lifetime bankroll to $243,902 for owners H A Taylor, J A Billings and D P Davis. Trained by Dylan Davis, Virgo was bred by Dustin Miller.

In the second $51,500 division for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Rogers Image (John DeLong) rebounded gamely with a 1:50 score after an off-the-board finish last week. Uninvolved in the race’s early stages, Rogers Image employed a :27 final panel to surge past his rivals late in the lane to secure the win. 

Trained by Ron Burke, the gelded son of Rockin Image—Remi’s Rocket record his sixth win of the season from 16 starts. Owned in partnership by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva—Purnel&Libby, Ras Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Rogers Image pushed his lifetime earnings to $156,993.

The two-year-old pacing colts and geldings were also in action on the evening’s 14-race card. Track record holder Fulfullnmydestiny (Tellitlikeitis – Driven By Destiny) and driver/trainer James Yoder turned in another dominant performance to capture the first split in 1:50.2. It was the fourth straight victory owned and bred by Brett Boyd Racing.

The evening’s final division of the stakes action was captured by upset winner Dalby Hanover (Rockin Image – Don’t Deny Me) and driver Joey Putnam. 

Dalby Hanover overcame the long, first-over grind to get up in the final strides in 1:51 for trainer Britney Dillon. The gelded son of Rockin Image—Don’t Deny Me scored his second-lifetime win and established a new lifetime best with the victory. Dalby Hanover returned $52.40 for the victory and is owned by Charles Stein. 

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (Sept. 15) with the three-year-old pacing fillies highlighting the evening’s 12-race card. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.