Buzzsaw Russ sharp in record-tying performance

ANDERSON, Ind.—July 21, 2023—Indiana Sire Stakes for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings reached the midway point as round four of eight highlighted the 14-race harness racing card on Friday, July 21.

A lone $96,000 division for the glamour boys featuring Coach Stefanos putting his undefeated 2023 season on the line, but it would be the two-year-old champion, Buzzsaw Russ (Rockin Image) pulling the mild 9-2 upset in track record equaling fashion.

Leaving from post two in the field of eight, driver John De Long was content to let Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller call the shots on the front end through the opening quarter of 27:2 as Buzzsaw Russ settled into the pocket. Why Not Now would have things his own way up the backstretch as LeWayne Miller tapped the brakes to the tune of a 28:1 second quarter to lead the field to the halfway point in 55:3. Not content to leave Why Not Now alone on the lead any longer, driver Trace Tetrick gave Coach Stefanos his signal from third, quickly moving first over to engage Why Not Now at three-quarters in 1:22:4, with Buzzsaw Russ stalking intently behind the dueling leaders as the field straightened for home.

In the stretch, De Long angled Buzzsaw Russ immediately to the rail to make it a three-across battle for the lead as Why Not Now and Coach Stefanos drifted off the pine in the high speed pursuit of the wire. Buzzsaw Russ wasted no time shooting the gap, powering home along the pylons behind the strength of a 25:2 homestretch blitz, capping off a sensational 52:3 back-half to score by just over two lengths on the line in 1:48:2. Coach Stefanos and Tetrick nosed out Why Not Now and Miller for the place position.

It was the second win in six seasonal starts for the Missy Essig trained gelding out of the Yankee Cruiser mare, Up Front Cruiser. Bred by Devon Beechy and Devon Knepp, Buzzsaw Russ has now banked $324,775 for owners Russell Beeman a Charles Weaver. The 1:48:2 mile matched the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings established by JK Victory in the 2022 edition of the Hoosier Cup and gave driver John De Long his third driving victory on the card.

The racing week concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 22. Two $48,500 divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes for the three-yar-old pacing fillies highlight the 12-race card which gets underway at 7:00pm.

Harrah’s Hoosier Park kicked off the 30^th season of live racing on Friday, March 24 and is set to host the richest open stakes schedule ever throughout the 2023 live racing season. Worth over a combined $12 million, the 160-day season will be the most lucrative stakes program in the track’s history culminated by hosting the 40^th edition of the Breeders Crown events in October. Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s premier pacing event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, is slated for Friday, August 11 and the coveted Breeders Crown events will take place on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28.

For more information on the upcoming live racing schedule or live entertainment at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.