Caesars Trotting Classic to Forbidden Trade

Harrah’s Hoosier Park held its Grand Circuit Night Friday headlined by the $201,000 Caesars Trotting Classic and other top harness racing stakes events.

Below is a wrap-up of the major stake’s events held Friday.

$201,000 Caesars Trotting Classic (Free-For-All Trot)

2019 Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade ($8.60) showed his heels to a field of tough competitors in capturing the $210,000 Caesars Trotting Classic, leading from start to finish for driver Bob McClure.

Leaving from post seven, McClure had Forbidden Trade on the move as did Yannick Gingras with It’s Academic who settled into the two-hole. They went to the first quarter in :27, then the half in :56.1 as race favorite Lindy The Great (Andy Miller) started up first-over with Ready For Moni (Dexter Dunn) second-over to the three-quarters in 1:24.2.

As they came down the stretch, Gingras moved from the pocket with It’s Academic but could not reach them by the wire as Forbidden Trade won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4. Guardian Angel As (Brian Sears) was third.

It was the fourth win this year for Forbidden Trade, the five-year-old stallion by Kadabra is trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination of Montreal, Quebec.

“This is the best he’s ever been,” said driver Bob McClure of Forbidden Trade. “He was off a while due to injuries and that time off did him so much good. He is in unbelievable form right now.”

FORBIDDEN TRADE REPLAY

$182,000 Harrah’s Hoosier Park Derby (Free-For-All Pace)

It was Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick) first on the lead with Ocean Rock and driver Chris Page on the outside and in command by the opening quarter mile in :26.2. They raced that way past the half in :54.4 before Catch The Fire (Scott Zeron) came first-over and pressing on the leaders at the three-quarters in 1:22.3.

Coming to the wire Ocean Rock kicked in another gear and scored by three lengths in 1:49. Catch The Fire was second with Little Rocket Man (John Delong) third.

His third straight win in major stakes competition as Ocean Rock won the $135,000 Jim Ewart Memorial last week and the prior week the $85,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Championship final.

A four-year-old gelded son of Rockin Amadeus, it was the sixth win this year for Ocean Rock. He is trained by Christi Noble for owner-breeder Sandra Burnett of Wilmington, Ohio and paid $7.20 to win.

OCEAN ROCK REPLAY

$200,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake

One of the richest stakes events on the card Friday, the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake (two-year-old filly trot) saw the 1/5 favorite, Joviality S ($2.40) and driver Brian Sears, move first-over and took command of the race after the opening quarter mile in :28.4.

With Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) sitting second, Joviality S cut fractions of :58.3 and 1:27.1 before holding off Raised By Lindy to win by a half-length in 1:54.1. Je Suis Si Belle (Andy Miller) was third.

It was the fourth straight win for the Chapter Seven filly who is trained by Marcus Melander for Courant, Inc. of Delray Beach, FL.

JOVIALITY S REPLAY

$115,000 The Moni Maker Stake

For three-year-old trotting fillies, The Moni Maker saw Swift Swanda and driver Trace Tetrick take early control to the first quarter in :28.1 and then let Aunt Irene (Dexter Dunn) come first-over and take command by the half mile in :57.3.

Late in the backstretch, race favorite Darlene Hanover (Andy McCarthy) came first-over but could not gain on the leaders past the three-quarters in 1:26.3. Then in the stretch drive, Gingras came with Swift Swanda and they were able to collar Aunt Irene before the wire for a one and one-length triumph in 1:54.2. Darlene Hanover was third.

It was the eighth win this year for Swift Swanda ($6.00), a Swan For All filly, trained by Irv Miller for owners Anthony Lombard and the Kales Company, LLC.

SWIFT SWANDA REPLAY

$200,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake

For two-year-old pacing fillies, Lyons Serenity ($3.20) and driver Tim Tetrick was able to squeeze by Cape Cod Hanover (Chris Page) along the rail in late stretch to win by a half a length in 1:52. Lorraine Smoke was third. It was the sixth straight win for Lyons Serenity.

After Dragon Lady (David Miller) led to the quarter in :26.4, Tetrick came out with Lyons Serenity and took command by the half mile in :55.4, but Cape Cod Hanover had followed their cover and they passed by Lyons Serenity by the three-quarters in 1:24.2. With JK’s Rollin Baby (Trace Tetrick) coming late on the outside it was a three-horse battle to the wire with Lyons Serenity getting the victory.

Sired by Sweet Lou, Lyons Serenity is trained by Jim King, Jr. for Threelyonsracing of Dranford, Ontario. It was lifetime mark and her seventh win in eight starts this year.

LYONS SERENITY REPLAY

$120,000 The Elevation Stake (2YO Pacing Colts)

With a brush to the lead after a :27.3 opening quarter mile, Fulfullnmydestiny ($2.80) and trainer-driver James Yoder held the field in bay in posting a :56 half, 1:23.1 three-quarters and then pulled away in the stretch to win by four and one-half lengths in 1:50.2. Gentle Giant (Trace Tetrick) was second with Ponda Warrior (Brandon Bates) third.

It was the fifth straight win for Fulfullnmydestiny, a gelded son of Tellitlikeitis, bred and owned by Brett Boyd Racing of Jonesville, Michigan.

FULFULLNMYDESTINY REPLAY

$100,000 Phil Langley Memorial (3YO Colt Trot)

The Hoosier Park track record for three-year-old trotting geldings, 1:52.1 set by Captain American in 2018, was tied Friday as Jujubee ($2.60) and driver Andy McCarthy won in a romp by three and one-quarter lengths.

Taking the early lead away from In Range (Tim Tetrick) after a :26.4 opening quarter, Jujubee was easily in command to the half mile in :55.4 and the three-quarters in 1:24. In Range hung tough but could not keep up with Jujubee in the stretch. Take All Comers (Brian Sears) was third.

Jujubee is sired by Creatine and posted his third straight win and is trained by Greg Wright, Jr. He is owned and bred by Jon Erdner of Lakewood Ranch, FL and now has won an amazing 12 times in 15 starts this season.

JUJUBEE REPLAY

$130,000 The Jenna’s Beach Boy (3YO Colt Pace)

It was a fight to the finish as Chase H Hanover ($6.60) and driver David Miller found a seam along the rail and held off Emblaze Hanover (Yannick Gingras) with ease to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:49.2, a lifetime mark. Virgo (Trace Tetrick) was third.

Chase H Hanover and One Eight Hundred (Dexter Dunn) left out of the gate with One Eight Hundred gaining the lead by the first quarter in :26.2. One Eight Hundred led the field to half in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:22 as Virgo started up late first-over.

In the stretch One Eight Hundred began to tire and bore out, allowing Chase H Hanover and Miller to shoot up the rail to victory lane.

It was the second straight win and third of the season for Chase H Hanover, a gelded son of Captaintreacherous, is trained by Scott Cox, who co-owns him with Jason Ash.

CHASE H HANOVER REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink