Harrah's Hoosier: Goldie's Legacy heads Indiana Sires Stakes victors

Goldie's Legacy, Brookview Bullet, and Rockin On Venus won the trio of Indiana Sires Stakes races for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers that were the featured events on Sunday night's card at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Driven by Sam Widger in the first $35,000 flight, Goldie's Legacy took the lead away from This Kit Rocks (Joey Putnam) after the 26 second opening quarter and continued on the front-end to the half in 54 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. In the lane Goldie's Legacy put away a first-over move from Rogers Image (Chris Page) and then opened up in eye-catching fashion inside the final eighth of the mile to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:49 2/5. This Kit Rocks wound up second, and Rogers Image held on to take third.

A gelding by Always A Virgin, Goldie's Legacy is co-owned by trainer Jeff Cullipher in partnership with Pollack Racing LLC. This was Goldie's Legacy's fifth career win, he boosted his lifetime earnings to $65,475, and he is now two-for-two in Indiana Sires Stakes competition this year. Sent off at 3-1, Goldie's Legacy paid $8.40 to win.

In the next $35,500 division, Brookview Bullet (Page) sped out from post six and took the top spot coming to the 26 2/5 opening quarter. From there, Page backed down the tempo to 55 3/5 at the half and 1:24 3/5 at three-quarters, and then Brookview Bullet sprinted home in 26 seconds to win in 1:50 3/5. He tallied by half a length over pocket-sitter Saddle Up (John De Long), who came up the passing lane in the stretch, with Big Gulp (Jay Cross) third after a first-over journey.

Brookview Bullet, who also won in the Indiana Sires Stakes on May 21, is a gelded son of Always A Virgin trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Brookview Bullet has compiled a record of 6-2-0 from 12 career appearances, and he has now pocketed $129,838. Brookview Bullet returned $5.20 to win as the favorite.

The last $35,000 section saw 70-1 shot Betterrock (Widger) rocket to the point in a 25 4/5 opening quarter. He was then challenged in the backstretch and passed after the 54 second half by Whiskey Wizzard (Brandon Bates), with Virgo (Trace Tetrick) out and moving first-over from fifth as Whiskey Wizzard cleared. Virgo and Whiskey Wizzard locked horns around the final bend, to the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, and into the lane, where Virgo got a slim advantage over his game rival.

However, Rockin On Venus (Mike Oosting), who'd been in the pocket at the quarter and then shuffled back on the cones in the middle-half, fanned out for clearance through the lengthy Harrah's Hoosier Park stretch, and Oosting timed Rockin On Venus's brush just right, as he got up on the wire to defeat Virgo by a nostril in a 1:49 3/5 mile. Whiskey Wizzard battled tenaciously to the wire and was third.

Kelly O'Donnell trains Rockin On Venus, a Rockin Image colt, for owner/breeder Emerald Highlands Farm. Rockin On Venus, who was winless in two tries as a 2-year-old, has four wins, a second, and two thirds in seven starts in 2021. He has banked $47,375 overall, and he paid $4.40 to win as the wagering favorite.