Churita Lowers Her Own Track Record

For the second consecutive week, the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino was re-established as Churita lowered her own mark once again in Indiana Sires Stakes action at the harness racing meeting on Wednesday, July 22.

With a 1:53.4 final time, Churita and Trace Tetrick captured the co-featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old trotting fillies, in a lifetime best effort to remain undefeated in 2015.

Churita established her previous track record of 1:54 on July 15 in Indiana Sires Stakes elimination action, breaking a 1:54.2 mark set by Lady Blitz and Verlin Yoder in 2013.

Churita's 1:53.4 victory marks the third track record that has been lowered over Hoosier Park's seven-eighths mile oval in 2015.

Leaving from post five in a field of nine, Churita was sent away from the gate firing to dictate first half fractions of :27.3 :56.1.

Mark O'Mara and Diamond Dagger were unable to find a spot along the rail and pressed on to the lead approaching the half.

Diamond Dagger had reached the leader's wheel at the three-quarter clocking in 1:25.1 but began to retreat as the taxing trip had taken its toll.

Even after being pressed for much of the mile, Churita continued to call the shots and looked strong on the front as the field turned for home.

Using a :28.3 final clip, Churita dug in gamely to hold off a hard charging Hannelore Hanover and Ricky Macomber Jr. late in the lane.

Golden Big Stick and Tyler Smith also rallied nicely in the homestretch but were forced to settle for third place honors.

As the heaving betting favorite, Churita returned $2.10 to her backers.

Trained by Matt Rheinheimer, Churita has now won all seven of her seasonal outings, 15 of 17 lifetime starts, and sports a career bankroll of $412,050.

The daughter of Airzoom Lindy-Stonebridge Volare was crowned Indiana's two-year-old trotting filly of the year and is owned by Jackie Porter.

In the two-year-old trotting colt ranks, Bridge to Jesse's and Ed Hensley were victorious in the other $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final on the evening.

Fresh off a win in the Indiana Sires Stakes eliminations last week, Bridge To Jesse's surged late in the lane to trot home a winner in 1:58.

Trained by Roger Welch, Bridge To Jesse's has now won three of four lifetime outings while earning $61,600.

Emily Gaskin