Harrah's Hoosier: Favorites prevail in Indiana Sires Stakes events

Sophomore pacers of both sexes took competed in their final legs of preliminary Indiana Sires Stakes action on Friday, October 9 at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Genie Rockwell and Grace Rocks scored for the fillies and Odds On Osiris and Clever Character prevailed for the colts and geldings and each winner went off as the post time favorite.

The first event saw Genie Rockwell rebounding in stakes action in 1:51 3/5. James Yoder guided his trainee to the winner's circle for the fourth time out of 11 starts for her sophomore season. Rock It Out, with Brandon Bates, rallied late in the lane from sixth to second, while Odds On Madison held on for third. Genie Rockwell paid $3.00 to win at the betting windows.

"That was her first win being first-over," Yoder noted. "There was early speed in the race, and once Trace (Tetrick, driving Foxy Rigger) took the lead, I wanted to give her a breather in the pocket before making a move. She definitely showed her class tonight."

Notching lifetime win number six out of 20 appearances, Genie Rockwell now sports a lifetime bankroll of $124,545 for owner Marlin Fry. The daughter of Always A Virgin-Norma Rockwell was bred by Glen Hershberger and Marlin Lehman.

The second filly to have a photo taken in the winner's circle was the Britney Dillon trainee Grace Rocks. Grace Rocks overcame her competitors in near gate-to-wire fashion with a commanding lead on the field. Handily crossing the wire in 1:50, Grace Rocks finished three lengths ahead of her nearest rival She was followed by Mystical Carrie (Tetrick), who staged a late rally from last to second, while Somebodyslilly, with Mike Oosting, held her mid-pack spot to finish third. Grace Rocks paid $3.60 to win.

Grace Rocks now holds a record of 18-9-2-2 and a lifetime bankroll of $232,310. The daughter of Rockin Image-Cosmic Grace is owned by Howard Taylor. The filly was bred by Victory Hill Farms.

The first division of stakes action for the colts brought Odds On Osiris to the winner's circle for back-to-back stakes wins. Peter Wrenn drove the gelding to a new lifetime mark of1:49 3/5. He won by three lengths and paid $2.80 to win. Sawyer's Desire (Tetrick) dug in for second while Caribbean Escape (John De Long) came in third.

Odds On Osiris, a son of Rockin Image-Antigua Hanover, now holds a $593,675 lifetime bankroll with a 18-11-3-2 record. The Melanie Wrenn trainee was bred by Merlie Schwartz. Odds On Osiris is owned by Odds On Racing.

The final stakes favorite to grab a win was Ron Burke trainee Clever Character (Sam Widger). The gelding earned his second win from 12 starts in 2020, boosting his lifetime bankroll to $240,965. Clever Character stopped the timer in 1:50 2/5, equaling his lifetime mark. Frankiepark (Ricky Macomber Jr.) got up for second, while Crook Boyzz, with Brandon Bates, staged a late rally from the back of the pack to claim third. Clever Character paid $4.60 to win.

Clever Character has now earned eight wins out of 21 starts for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, and Larry Karr. The son of Tellitlikeitis-Ruby Delight was bred by Freedom Hill Farms.

Each of the evening's divisional winners successfully earned a spot to compete in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals slated for Friday, October 16 at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. With purses over the $2 million mark, the annual Hoosier Champions Night will provide an exciting conclusion to the 2020 Indiana Sires Stakes season.

--edited press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--