Top Indiana sophomores get up to win Star Destroyer divisions

ANDERSON, Ind.—Nov. 15, 2024 – Two of Indiana’s finest, Gruesome Twosome (You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go) and Lets Go Endofaera (JK Endofanera-Let’s Go Higher) staged late rallies to get their noses on the wire first in a stakes filled harness racing card Friday (Nov. 15) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Seven splits of the Star Destroyer headlined the 14-race card for the four sophomore divisions, headlined by the $57,000 lone division for trotting colts.

Gruesome Twosome left from post five in the field of nine as the 1-20 favorite, with driver Daryl Bontrager settling the bettors’ choice into fourth early while Dashing Danny (Kyle Wilfong) worked around 70-1 shot Flirtnwiththepilot (Marvin Luna) through a first quarter of :28. Bontrager thought better of a backside brush, opting to stay in fourth as Dashing Danny got to the half in :57.1. The tempo quickened on the final turn, allowing Dashing Danny to scamper away by two lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.3 as Gruesome Twosome followed the cover of Victor Lazlo (John De Long) from second-over in fourth.

Victor Lazlo jumped it off at the top of the lane, as Gruesome Twosome found himself with a 5-1/2 length deficit to a dueling Dashing Danny and Flirtnwiththepilot midway through the stretch. Flirtnwiththepilot appeared poised to pull a massive shocker before Gruesome Twosome found his best stride late, rocketing home in :27.2 to chase down the longshot and reach the wire first by a quarter length in 1:54. Dashing Danny held for the show spot.

GRUESOME TWOSOME REPLAY

Bontrager trains and co-owns Gruesome Twosome along with Ira Steinberg. A winner in 10 of 15 this season, he has surpassed $400,000 in seasonal earnings, with a career bankroll of $642,603.

Lets Go Endofaera needed similar late race heroics to secure victory in the $30,000 second division for pacing fillies.

John De Long landed the 4-5 favorite in fourth early while Asweetbeachhere (Andy Miller) battled Daisy’s Star (LeWayne Miller) to the quarter in :27.2. After the dust settled, Brandon Bates wheeled Seaside Diva to assume command from Daisy’s Star at the half in :55.3. Seaside Diva looked to give the field the slip on the final turn, opening up by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.1 while Lets Go Endofaera stalked from second-over in fifth.

Seaside Diva looked to be home free in the lane, before beginning to tire in deep stretch with Lets Go Endofaera gaining. Surging late with a :26.3 last quarter, Lets Go Endofaera snagged the victory by a neck from Seaside Diva in 1:51.4, Daisy’s Star finished third at 38-1.

LETS GO ENDOFAERA REPLAY

A winner in 11 of 14 this season, Lets Go Endofaera is trained by Tabby De Long. The Jesse De Long homebred is co-owned by John and William De Long, and newly minted Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Famer, Brian Elmore. The victory brough Lets Go Endofaera’s seasonal earnings to $394,140 and just shy of $700,000 for her career.

The $30,000 first division for pacing fillies was won by Donegal Spirit (Captaintreacherous) at 7-1. Driver Andy Miller gave the Andrew Harris trainee the pocket ride before fending off Zuma Beach (Kyle Wilfong) in the lane by a nose in 1:51.1. The fourth victory in 18 outings this season pushed the earnings of the filly to $113,309 this season for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman and A Harris Racing.

DONEGAL SPIRIT REPLAY

The $30,300 first division for trotting fillies saw Woman Of Passion (Walner) overcome the outside post seven to score in 1:55.1 as the even-money choice. Driven by Pete Wrenn, Woman Of Passion took command on the backstretch, before fending off the pocket-sitting Danger (Robert Taylor) by a quarter length on the line. A 10 time winner in 15 starts this season, the Carter Pinske trainee has earned $290,148 in 2024 for owner Al Libfeld who bred Woman Of Passion with Marvin Katz.

WOMAN OF PASSION REPLAY

Ohio Sire Stakes champion Sugar Instead (Volstead) utilized similar tactics to score in the $30,000 second division for trotting fillies. Kyle Wilfong got the call for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., moving the 3-5 favorite to the lead on the backstretch, before holding Stella Volo (Pete Wrenn) at bay by a length to score in 1:54.4. The dominant filly secured the 20^th victory of her career, having won 13 of 15 this season for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Sugar Instead sports a gaudy bankroll of $513,339 this season while knocking on the door of $900,000 for her career.

SUGAR INSTEAD REPLAY

Tellmeitmatters (Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters) notched his first victory since Aug. 1, winning as the 2-5 favorite in the first of two $36,500 divisions for pacing colts. Going to work with his usual first-over grind, Tellmeitmatters and John De Long worked to the lead turning for home before digging in to fend off Noblesville (Brandon Bates) by a half length in 1:50.2. Roger Welch trains the William and Patrick De Long homebred who has won seven of 13 this year, banking $246,315 over his sophomore campaign.

TELLMEITMATTERS REPLAY

Stat That (Check Six-Rockin Songbird) concluded the biggest price of the night, pulling an 18-1 shocker in a mad scramble to the wire. After sitting third throughout, driver LeWayne Miller split rivals in the lane with a :26.3 last quarter to reach the line a neck clear of a hard-charging Dale Yea (Marvin Luna) in 1:51. Trained by Susan Miller for Derek Lehman, the victory was the second-consecutive and third of the season for the colt of who has earned $108,910 in 2024.

STAT THAT REPLAY

The week of live racing concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 12-race card on Saturday (Nov. 15), first post is 7:00 p.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.

From Harrah’s Hoosier Park