Anderson, IN — Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino kicked off a busy week of live racing action on Tuesday (Sept. 17) with two $65,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. After tasting defeat in their last stakes engagements, TJ’s Top Pick and Brigotto rebounded impressively to deliver as the heavy post time favorites in their respective divisions.

TJ’s Top Pick has now won six of seven lifetime starts at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Linscott Photography.

After making an uncharacteristic break in his last start, TJ’s Top Pick looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favorite this week, going gate-to-wire in 1:54.2. TJ’s Top Pick and driver Trace Tetrick went straight to the front and clicked off fractions of :28, :57.1 and 1:26.2. Turning for home, TJ’s Top Pick was on top with a four-length lead and used a :28 closing quarter to coast to the wire in front of Swan In Motion and Ricky Macomber Jr. Rocket Lee Breeze and Jared Finn rounded out the trifecta. As the heavy favorite, TJ’s Top Pick returned $2.60.

“Last week, he was just too keyed up,” trainer Jeff Cullipher noted of his stable’s standout in the winner’s circle. “He tied up and it just wasn’t his night. Tonight, he was much better. He’s pretty straight forward when it comes to maintaining him.”

With the win, TJ’s Top Pick pushed his lifetime bankroll to $145,871. The gelded son of Swan For All and J A’s Ayd has now won six of seven lifetime starts and is owned in partnership by Cullipher with Pollack Racing and Tetrick. TJ’s Top Pick was bred by Freeman Bontrager.

In the second stakes division, Brigotto was a two-move winner in 1:55.4. Brigotto was eased off the gate by Sam Widger through the opening panel in :28.1. When the field hit the half in :58, Widger gave Brigotto the green light and he ranged up to take the lead before yielding to Dude Included and Verlin Yoder.

Dude Included led the field through the three-quarters in 1:27.1, but Brigotto found late racing room up the inside and surged past his rivals late. After All Paul and Doug Rideout also rallied well late but were forced to settle for second ,while Simply Swan and Joe Putnam finished third. As the even money favorite, Brigotto returned $4.20.

“He’s a very handy little horse,” Widger noted after the victory. “He’s getting better and stronger with every start and really learning to be a race horse.”

With the win, the son of Bluto and Dream Act recorded his second win from eight lifetime outings. Bred by Pond-A-Acres, Brigotto is trained by Rodney Debeck and has now earned $75,441 in lifetime purse earnings.

The freshman trotting colts have now completed the fifth preliminary round of their six-round series as they look toward the $250,000 Super Finals slated for Oct. 11.

Live racing action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday (Sept. 19) with a 12-race card that feaatures a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool in races three through six and a $10,000 Hoosier High-5 in race 12.