Harness Racing: Bettors Edge conquers foes in $250,000 Monument Circle at Indiana Downs

Bettors Edge finally got his due. The three-year-old gelding, recently third in the Breeders Crown, gamely wore down his rivals to capture the $250,000 Monument Circle at Indiana Downs on Saturday night.

Trained by Linda Toscano and driven by Dave Miller, Bettors Edge took advantage of his second-tier spot to get away in good position. Easy Again grabbed the early lead from A Rocknroll Dance but willingly yielded to that rival through the :26 3/5 opening quarter over a track rated “good.”
Peter Wrenn, driving A Rocknroll Dance for the first time, pushed the pace when Sweet Lou came to challenge. Those two battled fiercely before Wrenn yielded through the swift :53 4/5 opening half.

The pace and trip appeared perfect for speedster Hurrikane Kingcole and driver Dan Dube. That pair had gotten on the back of Sweet Lou before the half and paced an explosive third quarter of :27 flat to get the front and appear to draw off.

Miller had the cover of Hurrikane Kingcole briefly on the final turn but once losing it Bettors Edge didn’t lose his edge or his determination. The son of Bettors Delight kicked into high gear in the late stages of the mile as Hurrikane Kingcole began to waver noticeably.

Sweet Lou put forth a valiant effort to overtake the leader late but proved no match for Bettors Edge. Cane Pace winner Dynamic Youth, reserved off the lead, flashed sharp late speed on the far outside to gain the place spot with Sweet Lou settling for third in the 1:49 3/5 mile.

Brittany Farm and Val D’or Farm bred and own the sophomore gelding that won for the sixth time this season in his 21st trip to post and upped his earnings this season to $531,253. Sent off at 5-2, Bettors Edge returned $7.40 on a $2 win ticket.

Hurrikane Kingcole faded to fourth with Meadowlands Pace winner A Rocknroll Dance finishing a well-beaten seventh in his first start of the year without driver Yannick Gingras.

A Rocknroll Dance will go next in the $415,820 Messenger Stakes, Saturday, November 10 at Yonkers Raceway.

Foiled Again does it again

In the $200,000 Indiana Pacing Derby Foiled Again established an Indiana Downs track record scoring in 1:49 1/5 for Yannick Gingras. The eight-year-old son of Dragon Again secured the lead from entrymate Foreclosure N past the half and then held off a solid bid by Razzle Dazzle. The victory, his seventh this year, pushed him over the $1.2 million mark in earnings in 2012. Foreclosure N held on for third.

Upfront Billy in front late

In the $260,500 Oliver Trotting Classic for three-year-olds Upfront Billy posted the upset chasing down Uncle Peter nearing the wire in a 1:55 mile. Uncle Peter, the beaten Hambletonian favorite, was making his first start since August. He cut the entire mile but could not withstand driver Trace Tetrick and Upfront Billy a gelded son of Andover Hall. Bill Zendt trains and co-owns Upfront Billy along with Ed Mullinax.

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