Rookie trotters wrap up Indiana Sires Stakes

ANDERSON, Ind.—Oct. 1, 2024 – Rookie trotters took to the track Tuesday (Oct. 1) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park for the sixth and final harness racing leg of Indiana Sire Stakes prior to the $250,000 Super Finals on Friday, Oct. 11. There were two divisions for both the trotting colts and fillies on the evening, with the bettors proving to be dialed in on the young trotters.

Starlitfranknstein kicked off the stakes action on the evening, leading every step of the way en route to a dominant victory as the 3-5 favorite in the first of two $66,000 splits for trotting colts. Leaving from post three, driver Trace Tetrick pointed Starlitfranknstein right to the front, trotting with the lead to an opening quarter of :28.3 in front of 53-1 pocket-sitter, Flight To Broadway (Logan Loney). The pace slowed to the half in :58.4 before Starlitfranknstein opened up entering the final turn, trotting away by five lengths at three-quarters in 1:27.3 as Kansas Boy (LeWayne Miller) moved around Flight To Broadway for second. Trotting home in :27.2, Starlitfranknstein would not be caught, coasting to a 3-3/4 length victory in 1:55. Tarzan (Mike Oosting) rallied for place, Kansas Boy held for third.

STARLITFRANKNSTEIN REPLAY

Trained by Ron Burke, Starlitfranknstein has was three of eight in his freshman campaign, hitting the board six times while banking $129,327. Bred by John Wagler, the son of Swan For All-A Southern Lily was a $12,000 purchase at last fall’s Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty and Frank Baldachino.

The second division saw Eugene The Genius (Helpisontheway) return to the winner’s circle following a third place effort in his last outing in the $390,000 Peter Haughton Memorial behind Maryland. Sent off as the 2-5 choice from post two, regular pilot Mike Oosting floated Eugene The Genius to the front early, parked to the outside of Kody Kickstand (Ricky Macomber Jr.) through an opening quarter of :27.3. Eugene The Genius cleared to the lead on the backstretch, slowing things down in the middle half with fractions of :58 and 1:27.4. Eugene The Genius kicked clear at the head of the lane, sprinting away with a :27.1 final quarter to cross the wire 3-1/4 lengths clear in 1:55. Sure Did (Marvin Luna) slipped up the passing lane to finish second, Bluebird Ladychuck (Dan Shetler) closed at 29-1 to be third.

EUGENE THE GENIUS REPLAY

The leading points earner across the six legs of Sire Stakes heading into the Super Final, the Missy Essig trainee has won seven of nine on the year and yet to miss the board. The gelded son of Helpisontheway-Muscle Baby Doll was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables and has banked $230,745 for owners Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver.

5-2 second-choice Woodside Izz used front-stepping tactics to take the first of two $68,500 splits for the trotting fillies. Driver LeWayne Miller and Woodside Izz glided around 3-5 favorite Swan Jewel (Tetrick) to grab early command through a quarter of :28.4. The pace slowed considerably into the wind on the way to the half, with Woodside Izz reaching that station in 1:00.1 before leading to three-quarters unchallenged in 1:30. The stage was then set for a sprint for home, with Swan Jewel pulling alongside Woodside Izz in the lane as the duo battled to the wire. In her haste, Swan Jewel jumped it off just prior to the line, allowing Woodside Izz to reach the wire alone up front by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2. Swan Jewel was not deemed to be lapped-on crossing the wire, holding for place, while Kelsey’s Reason (Luna) was third.

WOODSIDE IZZ REPLAY

Susan Miller trains the daughter of Dover Dan-Diamond Peak who has won four of nine on the season while banking $136,925. The $11,000 yearling purchase was bred by Lester Beechy and is owned by L+N Racing, Richard Freese, Platinum Stables and Matthew Lamont.

Miracle Maven and John De Long utilized similar front-end tactics to conclude the stakes action in the second division for trotting fillies. The 1-5 favorite took command immediately off the gate, trotting to the first quarter 2-1/2 lengths clear of pocket-sitter Bluebird Lola (Tetrick) at the first quarter in :28. Bluebird Lola closed to the De Long helmet at the half in :57.3 as the duo trotted well clear of the remainder of the field. Miracle Maven gained separation once again on Bluebird Lola on the final turn, trotting to a 4-1/2 length lead at three-quarters in 1:27.1. Bluebird Lola would yo-yo once more back to within reach of the leader in the lane, however it was Miracle Maven who held sway up front by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Martz Seven (Mike Peterson) finished third, 7-1/4 lengths back of the leader.

MIRACLE MAVEN REPLAY

The daughter of Don’t Let’em-Bad Babysitter is trained by Henry Graber Jr. for owners Elen Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty and Hillside Stables. Bred by Noah Wickey, the $8,500 bargain buy at the 2023 Midwest Classic sports career earnings of $146,020 while winning five of eight on the year.

The top-10 points earners across the six legs from each division qualify for the $250,000 Super Finals on Hoosier Champions Night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 11.

Racing continues on Wednesday (Oct. 2) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the final preliminary rounds of Indiana Sire Stakes for both the two-year-old pacing fillies and three-year-old trotting fillies highlighting the 13-race card. Two divisions of each will go postward on the evening, first post is 6:15p.m

For more information on the 2024 live racing season, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Jacob Rheinheimer, for Harrah’s Hoosier Park