by Tammy Knox, Publicity Director, Hoosier Park

Universal Star was a gate-to-wire winner in the $16,000 second leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes Thursday, April 27 at Hoosier Park. With driver Dale Hiteman in the sulky, the Indiana-sired trotter posted a time 1:55.2 in his first race back at Anderson, Ind. track in 2006. The race was the second non-betting event of the evening.

Universal Star was the first one off of the starting gate as he powered his way to the opening quarter in :27.2. Not showing any signs of exhaustion from the quick early fraction, Universal Star continued trotting down the backside with a comfortable lead.

Prevailing in the stretch drive, Universal Star closed with a final panel of :28.4 to take the second division by one and three-quarter lengths. Big Boy Josh and driver Charlie Conrad held on to finish second. Awesome Tom, with driver Neil Coleman, rounded out the top three, earning the show spot.

Universal Star is an impressive six for nine this season. Coming in from Balmoral Park, the five-year-old has been dominating in open company. He also set a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3 in Chicago during the month of March. The son of Keep It A Secret is owned by Jackie and Sally Jo Richard and Renee Irvine. Doug Hamilton trains the bay gelding.

In the first division, Los Barvos and trainer-driver Dan Shetler trotted home in :28 seconds flat to take their division in a time of 1:58.2. Bigboybyetsem and Norm Dessureult finished second over Rick Farrington and CC Love The Red for third.

Los Barvos is owned by Wendy Crissman and Ruthi Joseph. The seven-year-old Vision’s Pride gelding now has more than $285,000 in career earnings. The victory was his second of the year in eight outings.

Notes and Quotes From Hoosier Park

Ten Vie For Title In Dan Patch Invitational Pace —

The 13^th edition of the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace will highlight the 15-race card Saturday, April 29. Ten horses will vie for the title, slated as race nine. Estimated post time will be 9:41 p.m. EDT.

Leading the field as the early morning line favorite is Hop Sing, who is currently on a two-race win streak. The five-year-old son of The Panderosa has six wins in 11 outings this year, including titles in the Four Leaf Clover and Presidential Series at The Meadowlands. Hop Sing has the most purse earnings for 2006 along with the fastest win time, pulling in more than $250,000 and taking a mark of 1:48.3 this season. Tony Morgan, the nation’s leading driver with 350 wins already this season, comes in to drive Hop Sing from post four.

Joining Hop Sing as an early favorite is Casimir Camotion, fourth place finisher in last year’s Dan Patch Invitational. The six-year-old son of Camluck is one of two millionaires in the field with more than $1.1 million in career earnings. Casimir Camotion has been first or second in his last four outings. He begins his journey from post two for driver George Brennan.

Two Indiana-sired horses are included in this year’s race. Rebelman, a winner in two of three starts for 2006, starts from post three while Foxy Maneuver will begin from post one. The 2006 edition of the race marks the third appearance for Foxy Maneuver, who finished fourth in both the 2003 and 2004 editions of the race.

Horses included in the race, in post position order with driver and odds are as follows: Foxy Maneuver (Don Eash) 5-1, Casimir Camotion (George Brennan) 3-1, Rebelman (Joe Essig Jr.) 12-1, Hop Sing (Tony Morgan) 5-2, Tigerama (Robert Shepherd) 8-1, Mypanmar (Ricky Macomber Jr.) 15-1, Escape The Wind (Roger Mayotte) 4-1, Primetime Bobcat (Jody Jamieson) 9-2, Spirit Of A Shark (Walter Haynes Jr.) 6-1, and Maltese Artist (Mike Wilder) 10-1.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. for Dan Patch Night. Tom Wopat from the television series “The Dukes Of Hazzard” will make a special guest appearance. Also, replicas of the General Lee and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coletrane’s car will be on display. Pepsi will sponsor a basketball game and grill giveaway. The premier giveaway item of the night is the Viking Epic Fold Down camper courtesy of Modern Trailer Sales of Anderson, Ind.

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–Notable-

**Trackside Indiana And Hoosier Park To Offer Advanced Wagering On The Kentucky Derby. Trackside locations in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Merrillville will join Hoosier Park in offering advanced wagering on the Kentucky Derby Friday, May 5. Advanced programs for the Kentucky Derby will be sold for $1. Also, Trackside Indianapolis will offer early bird wagering Saturday, May 6 from 7 until 10 a.m. on the entire Kentucky Derby program.

**Post Time Change May 6. Due to the running of the 132^nd Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 6, Hoosier Park’s live harness racing program will have a late post time. The racing card at Hoosier Park will begin at 7:15 p.m.

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“Quotable”-

**Owner-trainer-driver Don Eash on Foxy Maneuver’s post position draw for the Dan Patch Invitational Pace – “I was at the draw and the final two horses were left to draw post positions for the Dan Patch. There was the number one left and the nine-hole left and it was between Foxy and Spirit Of A Shark. We got really lucky and drew post one.”

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Upcoming Promotions-
**Dan Patch “Good Ole Boy” Night. The 13^th edition of the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational will be featured Saturday, April 29. Tom Wopat, who played on “The Dukes of Hazzard” television series, will make a special guest appearance. Also, replicas of the General Lee and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coletrane’s car will be on display. Fans can register to win a Viking Epic Fold-Down camper courtesy of Modern Trailer Sales. Also, kids will enjoy free pony rides, face painting, and barn tours as part of Pepsi Family Saturdays.

**Join Us For The Kentucky Derby. Hoosier Park will offer the simulcast of the 132^nd running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 6. Gates open at 10 a.m. The first post Derby Day is 11 a.m. Advanced wagering will be offered on both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.