Harrah's Hoosier: More stakes success for Hot Mess Express, Swingforthefences

Indiana Sires Stakes champions Hot Mess Express and Swingforthefences were among the winners in divisions of the Pegasus for 3-year-olds on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Hot Mess Express (John De Long) picked up her 12th win of the season in her $45,000 flight for pacing fillies. She took command after the 26 1/5 opening quarter, and after posting middle-half panels of 55 1/5 and 1:23 2/5, the Tony Alagna-trained daughter of Panther Hanover came home in 27 seconds flat to win by four lengths in 1:50 2/5. An earner of $735,699 lifetime, Hot Mess Express is owned by Sam Bowie.

Swingforthefences (Peter Wrenn) took his $28,500 grouping for colt and gelding trotters in 1:54 4/5. After chopping out a 28 1/5 quarter, Swingforthefences yielded to sit behind Brookview Bolt (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Brookview Bolt reached the half in 56 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, but Swingforthefences, a son of Swan For All trained by Melanie Wrenn for owners David McDuffee and L&L Devisser LLC., got up in the lane to win by a length over Illini Earl (Brandon Bates). Swingforthefences pushed his bankroll to $467,910 and now has 11 career victories.

De Long and Alagna also teamed up to win a $24,000 section for filly trotters with Piper Hanover (by Father Patrick) in 1:54. Piper Hanover is owned by Brittany Farms in partnership with Marvin and Lynn Katz and Al Libfeld.

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Trace Tetrick also won two $29,000 Pegasus splits for colt and gelding pacers. He tallied with Straight Talk (by Sweet Lou) in 1:51 for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and with Goldie's Legacy (by Always A Virgin) in 1:49 3/5 for co-owner/trainer Jeff Cullipher and co-owner Pollack Racing LLC.

Empressive Hill, a daughter of Muscle Hill driven by trainer Rick Plano for owners Jordan Derue, Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Gilbert Short, tallied in 1:53 4/5 in a $24,000 test for filly trotters, and Street Gossip (by Cash Hall) bagged a $28,500 colt and gelding trot in 1:54 1/5 for driver Sam Widger, trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., and owners Carl Howard and Jesmeral Stable.