by Tammy Knox, publicity director, Hoosier Park

Wigwam Baby found just enough room in the stretch to get up and win the $7,000 Indiana Sires Stakes prep race for older trotting mares Friday, June 22. Fighting from five-wide in the lane with driver Mark O’Mara, the 4-year-old trotted to the wire in a time of 1:57.1. The final time shattered her previous best by one and three-fifths of a second.

“I was a little surprised that we were able to get there at the end and grab the win,” said O’Mara. “We really just wanted to try and get a check in the race. She (Wigwam Baby) received a good trip. The connections just wanted me to get a feel for her and see what I thought. I would love to try for the final with her.”

Wigwam Baby sat at the back of the pack early on as she began from post position three. Fast fractions being set up front by B L Starchip and driver Don Eash were just a small key to success for Wigwam Baby.

The field was gapped out while B L Starchip turned out quarters of :27.3, :56.3, and 1:27.0, leading three-parts of the way. The advantage lasted well into the stretch until a wall of horses battled for the wire.

Gaining ground from the outside at the one-eighth pole, Wigwam Baby responded beautifully for O’Mara. With just a few feet to go, Wigwam Baby used her final gear, pulling away to win. Perfect Bubbles and driver Mike Peterson rallied to finish second. Secret Star, with driver Don Irvine Jr., held on to round out the trifecta.

“The field was going a little more than she (Wigwam Baby) could go at the beginning of the race,” said O’Mara. “We tried to close the gap that was in front of us down the backstretch. The strategy was to stay right-side out. The trainer said not to use her up early.”

Wigwam Baby returned $15.00, $7.20, and $5.80 for the victory. The win was her fourth trip to the winner’s circle in eight outings this season. She has earned more than $44,000 in her short career. The daughter of Padre Hanover is owned by Don Swartzentruber of Loogootee, Ind. Robert Wagler trains the Indiana-sired mare.

Wigwam Baby has the momentum heading into the $80,000-est. Indiana Sires Stakes final Hoosier Cup Night Saturday, June 30. Six Indiana Sires Stakes finals will be part of the final night where purses will be in excess of $1 million, headlined by the $500,000-est. Hoosier Cup. The evening will close out the 2007 Standardbred meet at Hoosier Park.

Kentucky Brew Brilliant in Top Female Pace
By Brad Meadows

Kentucky Brew returned to her winning ways Friday, June 22 in the $22,000 featured Invitational Handicap. Picking up Hoosier Park top 10 driver Jay Cross, the daughter of Kentucky Spur paced the final quarter-mile fraction in :27.1 to win by a head in a time of 1:53.3.

“She raced well again like she did last week,” said Cross. “This is a competitive field and any one of them can come up and win. She is game late, especially inside the 16^th pole. She seems to have just enough left to hold them off.”

Don Irvine Jr. made a sweeping move from the far outside with Sha Daisy Sunset to take command of the field early. Jetstream Cute Cam and Walter Haynes Jr. picked up the pocket seat in second. Marks-Mindy got away well in third, with Kentucky Brew finding racing room greater than nine lengths back in seventh.

Sha Daisy Sunset patrolled the field to half and three-quarter mile fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4. Jetstream Cute Cam and Haynes maintained strong cover in second, with Kentucky Brew holding cover second-over in fifth. More Taxes and Trent Stohler provided live cover first up on the outside that proved to be the difference.

“I had real strong cover that carried me to the top of the stretch,” added Cross. “When you’re in the back to begin with, it helps when the pace slows down. Things just worked out perfect for us tonight.”

Using that cover, Kentucky Brew had plenty of energy left to exert deep down the stretch. This is the time when the 7-year old mare comes alive, as she appears to get stronger throughout the mile. Jetstream Cute Cam had plenty of pace left but came up just short and finished second. Marks-Mindy and Joe Putnam were up for third.

Kentucky Brew returned $14.40, $4.80, and $3.80. Theodore Engel of Indianapolis, Ind. owns and Dave White trains. It is the third seasonal victory for Kentucky Brew, who has over $330,000 in lifetime earnings.

Rebelman Heads Saturday’s Invite Pace
By Ryan Hubbard

Rebelman has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $22,000 Hoosier Park Invitational Handicap Saturday, June 23. He has been assigned the outside with driver Joe Essig Jr. Co-headlined with a pair of Genesis Series Finals, the Invitational Pace is slated as the eighth event on the 15-race card.

Rebelman is four for six this season at the Anderson, Ind. track, dominating the top class for horses and geldings. His last victory came in impressive fashion one week ago in the $22,000 Invite, setting a new lifetime mark of 1:50.1 at Hoosier Park.

Rebelman is closing in on the $300,000 barrier in career earnings. A win will see him surge over the mark as he has earned a grand total of $292,855, making him the richest horse in Saturday’s eight-horse field. The 6-year-old son of Electric Yankee is owned and trained by Steve Brannan. Rebelman will start from post position eight.

Challenger Chief Silverheels has made an outstanding comeback in 2007. Making his seasonal debut just over a month ago, he has already won two of his five starts. He won the Hoosier Park Invite two starts ago, equaling Rebelman’s mark of 1:50.1. Driver Ross Leonard gets the call again from trainer Forrest Collier, starting from post position five. Eleanor Collier owns the son of Hi Ho Silverheel’s.

Touch Of Steel is making his return to Central Indiana. He has won three races in 11 starts this year at Pompano Park. He brings in his record of 1:51.4, set two starts ago, into the Invite. The last time he touched the Hoosier Park oval was in 2006, winning the $88,925 Indiana Sires Stakes Final. Touch Of Steel will be driven by trainer-driver Mark O’Mara from post position two. The son of Lease On Life is owned by Gerrie Tucker.

Saturday’s Invite will be the final prep for a few of the Indiana-sired horses. They will be going through some final details for next week’s $80,000-est. Indiana Sires Stakes Final for older pacers on Hoosier Cup Night, Saturday, June 30. The evening will feature the $500,000-est. Hoosier Cup and six Indiana Sires Stakes Finals, bringing the total purses for the evening in excess of $1 million.