Dead heat in derby

Facing what appeared to be imminent defeat in the final sixteenth, Star Dabbler took one final lunge at Cielo Gold, and the two finished in a dead heat in the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. The dead heat was the first in the 12-year history of the race.

Star Dabbler, making his first start in a two-turn race, grabbed the early lead and maintained a steady advantage until the stretch, when the late-charging Cielo Gold poked his head in front inside the eighth pole. Under an aggressive ride by Richard Migliore, Star Dabbler found just enough in the final yards to come back on the inside of Cielo Gold, who had Brian Hernandez aboard. Smokeyjonessutton finished five lengths back in third.

Bright One, who was bet down to 3-5, was never a factor in the lane and finished seventh.

Star Dabbler, trained by Michael Hushion, paid $4.60, while the Hal Wiggins-trained Cielo Gold paid $5. Final time for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track was 1:42.84.

* In the $104,500 Schaefer Mile, Going Wild ($19.20) held on for a 2o1/2-length win over Sampson's Son. M B Sea, the 2-1 favorite, made a belated rally to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Sampson's Son. Going Wild, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Corey Lanerie, ran the mile in 1:36.45.

* In the $40,000 Gus Grissom Stakes for Indiana-breds, Indy Two broke on top and stayed there throughout the 1 1/16-mile trip, defeating 36-1 shot Commanding Heights by a length. Liepers Fork finished third, while 1-2 favorite Pass Rush wound up fifth after a slow start. Indy Two paid $21.40.