Buzzsaw Russ impressive again in $96,000 ISS

ANDERSON, Ind.—July 28, 2023— After a track record equaling mile in stakes harness racing action last week, Buzzsaw Russ (Rockin Image), with John DeLong in the bike, continued his winning ways in the featured event of the evening the $96,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday, July 18 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

With the win, Buzzsaw Russ scored his second consecutive victory and third win from seven seasonal starts.

Leaving from the coveted rail position, Buzzsaw Russ left just enough to protect his position and grab the pocket seat behind the co-favored Coach Stefanos and Trace Tetrick. Coach Stefanos reached the opening quarter in :28 and went uncontested through the second station in :55.3. As the field approached the final turn, LeWayne Miller had Why Not Now out and applying pressure from first-over with JK Black Gold and Kyle Wilfong in tow.

As the field turned for home, Coach Stefanos looked strong on the front but Buzzsaw Russ was looming large in the pocket. DeLong tipped his mount from the pocket and he used a snappy :25.4 closing kick to get the win by nearly two lengths over Coach Stefanos. Why Not Now closed hard for third. Buzzsaw Russ returned $4.20 for the victory at the betting windows.

Trained by Missy Essig, it was the seventh win in 16 lifetime starts for the geldeding out of the Yankee Cruiser mare, Up Front Cruiser. Bred by Devon Beechy and Devon Knepp, Buzzsaw Russ has now banked $372,775 for owners Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver. Buzzsaw Russ matched the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings with a 1:48:2 effort in stakes action last week. The previous mark was established by JK Victory in the 2022 edition of the Hoosier Cup. The victory with Buzzsaw Russ was one of two winners on the program for Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s second leading driver, John DeLong.

The racing week concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 29 with two $67,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings highlighting the 12-race card which gets underway at 7:00 p.m. Also on Saturday, Harrah’s Hoosier Park will host the fourth annual Empire of Hope day. The Empire of Hope event is dedicated to raise funds for the after care of retired racehorses, with all proceeds directly benefitting the Standardbred Transition Alliance to assist efforts to relocate, rehabilitate and repurpose retired standardbred racehorses.

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.

For complete race results, click here.

From Harrah’s Hoosier Park