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ANDERSON, Ind.—June 16, 2023—Coach Stefanos (Tellitlikeitis—Watch N Be Watched), with driver Trace Tetrick in the bike, turned in a dominant harness racing performance to find the winner’s circle in the featured event of the evening, the $97,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 16.
Stopping the timer in 1:49.3, Coach Stefanos established a new lifetime best and remains undefeated in two starts this season.
Leaving from post seven in the talented field of eleven, Coach Stefanos left just enough to grab a seat along the rail in fifth. Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller were the quickest away through the opening quarter in :27.1 while Ifudntnomebynow and Brandon Bates grabbed the pocket seat.
As the field approached the half, John DeLong had Buzzsaw Russ out and firing and the post-time favorite grabbed the lead just past the half in a snappy :53.4. Buzzsaw Russ continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:22.1 but David Allan Whoa and Joey Putnam were on the attack with Coach Stefanos in tow. Using a :26.2 final panel, Coach Stefanos tipped off cover and dug in gamely late in the lane to track down his competitors and get the win by a head over Why Not Now. David Allan Whoa finished third. Coach Stefanos returned $5.40 to his backers at the betting windows.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” driver Trace Tetrick noted after the victory. “It worked out perfect for us. He’s a super colt. Erv (Miller) and his team have done a great job with him, getting him ready and bringing him along. He qualified great and he’s been very sharp in both his starts. He’s a very talented, very versatile colt. You can do just about anything you want with him.”
COACH STEFANOS REPLAY
Trained by Erv Miller, Coach Stefanos has now won eight of 13 lifetime starts while bankrolling $318,805 for owners K W Duffy, D&M Trading IL LLC, and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos. Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm. The victory was also one of seven winners on the evening’s program for Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s leading driver Trace Tetrick.
Live racing action will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, June 17 with a 12-race card beginning at 7 pm. Harrah’s Hoosier Park 30th season of live harness racing will feature the richest open stakes schedule to date. 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 40th 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.
