Harrah’s Hoosier Park Grand Circuit undercard for Friday

There was a total of nine major Grand Circuit harness racing stakes races held Friday (Sept. 22) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Here is a wrap-up of some of the stakes races.

$100,000 2YO Colt Trot – The Madison County

Gruesome Twosome (You Know You Do) was the 9/5 race favorite and raced just like it for trainer-driver Daryl Bontrager, leaving from post eight and working their way to the front by the opening quarter in :28.

They were never headed as Gruesome Twosome wired the field with fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.4. They won by two and one-half lengths over the pocket-sitting Topmost (John De Long) with Elhelpski (Peter Wrenn) third.

It was the third straight win and fifth victory in seven lifetime starts for Gruesome Twosome. He is owned by Ira Steinberg and Bontrager and paid $5.60 to win.

GRUESOME TWOSOME REPLAY

$110,000 2YO Colt Pace – The Elevator

Undefeated Newsroom (Always B Miki) showed true grit in coming back in the stretch to score his sixth straight victory for Hall of Fame driver David Miller.

Martz Telly (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was first on the lead to the quarter mile in :28 with Newsroom coming on the outside to take command. Newsroom then cut the mile to the half in :56.4 and the three-quarters in 1:25. As they came down the stretch, Martz Telly actually had the lead on the inside but MIller was able to urge Newsroom on to the wire and the colt came back to win by a neck in 1:51.4. Noblesville (Yannick Gingras) was second with Premier Romeo (Kyle Wilfong) third.

Trained by Hall of Famer Joe Holloway, Newsroom is owned by Val D’Or Farms and paid just $2.20 to win as the 1/9 wagering favorite.

NEWSROOM REPLAY

$152,000 3YO Filly Trot – The Moni Maker

With the addition of trotting hobble, 12-1 Southwind Cherry (Muscle Hill) closed well in the stretch for driver Trace Tetrick to beat the 1-2 race favorite Instagram Model (Andy McCarthy) in 1:53.3.

Fashion Annie (Tim Tetrick) was first on the lead to the quarter in :27.1. Then it was Instagram Model taking command before the half mile in :56. They raced to the three-quarters in 1:25.1. Then in the stretch, Trace Tetrick came on from fourth place with Southwind Cherry, collared Instagram Model, and pulled away to win by three lengths. Instagram Model was second with Heart On Fire (Todd McCarthy) third.

Trained and co-owned by Jeff Cullipher with Pollack Racing, it was the second straight win and fifth victory of the year for Southwind Cherry who paid $27.00 to win.

SOUTHWIND CHERRY REPLAY

$200,000 2YO Filly Pace – The Kentuckiana Stallion Management

Blue Pacific (Sweet Lou) was the strong horse in the race, collaring race favorite Lyons Legend i(Tim Tetrick) n the stretch and pull away at the finish with a lifetime mark of 1:50.2.

Direction (Todd McCarthy) was first on the lead from post eight to the first quarter in :26.2. Then it was Lyons Legend coming on the outside to take command before the half mile in :55. Meanwhile, moving first-over on the outside was Blue Pacific and driver David Miller and they came after Lyons Legend past the three-quarters in 1:23.2.

Blue Pacific was at her best, going on in the stretch to win by three and one-half lengths. It was a lifetime mark for the filly, who notched he second straight win in just three lifetime starts for trainer Joe Holloway and Val D’Or Farms. She paid $7.40 to win.

BLUE PACIFIC REPLAY

$127,500 3YO Colt Pace – The Jenna’s Beachboy

With a pocket-trip behind race favorite Christchurch, Why Not Now (Always A Virgin) and driver Lewayne Miller exploded down the stretch to win going away in a lifetime best 1:48.2.

Why Not Now was sent right to the early lead through the first quarter in :25.2 as Christchurch (Yannick Gingras) came on the outside to take command. Christchurch then led to the half mile in :53.3. Then it was A Cool Moment (Joey Putnam) coming first-over to challenge but they could not gain on Christchurch as he led to the three-quarters in 1:21.

Coming down the stretch, Miller took Why Not Now from the pocket and came after Christchurch, passing them by and then held off a late charge by Coach Stefanos (Trace Tetrick) to win by three-quarters of a length. Christchurch was third.

It was the sixth win this year for Why Not Now. He is trained by Dylan Davis for owners Howard Taylor, Dyan Davis and J A Billings. He paid $9.80 to win.

WHY NOT NOW REPLAY

$100,000 3YO Colt Trot – The Phil Langley Memorial

The race started off with the co-favorite Once In A Lifetime (Tim Tetrick) going off-stride right at the start. Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) shot out from post nine to take early command to the first quarter in :26.1 with Texsong Soprano (Michael Oosting) sitting the pocket trip to the half mile in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Co-favorite Helpfirstedition  and driver John De Long had come to the outside on the final turn, and they came after Ponda Jet down the stretch as did Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras). Helpfirstedition was the strong horse, nailing down the victory by a half a length with Ponda Jet second with Point of Perfect third.

It was a lifetime mark for Helpfirstedition and his sixth win on the season for trainer Melissa Essig. He is co-owned by Ervin Wickey, John Graber, Running Wild Stables and John Smucker. He paid $7.00 to win.

HELPFIRSTEDITION REPLAY

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink