Tetrick leads the way as Hoosier Park opens

Hoosier Park opened this past weekend to its 30th season of harness racing action, featuring two full cards of 14 races each on March 24 and 25.

The return of the area’s leading driving colony proved to be fortuitous not only for the bettors but for the trainers as well as Hoosier Park began its’160-day season.

From the 28 races contested, Trace Tetrick captured six each over the two-night span, while Tyler Smith and John DeLong racked up five triumphs each (Smith notched all of his on the Saturday night card).

Topping the trainer’s standings for the first two nights of competition was Jeff Cullipher and Charles Stewart, who had four winners each, with Cullipher’s charges earning $36,320 and Stewarts garnering $18,100.

Tetrick steered the fastest winner on the Friday night (March 24) program, guiding Ike’s Panther (Panther Hanover) to a front-stepping 1:50.2 clocking. Owned by Castaldo Racing Stable of Illinois, Ike’s Panther captured the $9,000 conditioned pace by 6¼ lengths.

IKE’S PANTHER REPLAY

The featured $22,000 Open Pace was captured by the favorite, Little Rocket Man (Rockin Image), in rein to John DeLong for trainer Ken Rucker. The 7-year-old gelding stopped the timer in 1:51.1 with a come-from-behind effort for owners Russel Beeman and Jack Freeman of Indiana. It was the 39th victory in 74 career starts for Little Rocket Man, who has a career defining 1:47.2 mark taken at age four, with a bankroll of $705,999.

LITTLE ROCKET MAN REPLAY

On Saturday evening, it was trainer Don Eash’s Rose Run Vision (Time To Roll) who stole the show by taking the $18,000 Fillies and Mares Open in 1:52.2. Owned by Eash Racing Stable, Inc., Rose Run Vision posted a quarter length victory over Rockin Nola (Joey Putnam). This 6-year-old bay mare, who has $371,542 in career earnings, posted her best mark at age four, when she was timed in 1:50s.

ROSE RUN VISION

Hoosier Park will host the Breeders Crown for the third time in its history, during the final week of the meeting, on Oct. 27 and 28.

For complete Friday race results, click here.

For complete Saturday race results, click here.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink