Harrah's Hoosier: No Lou Zing passes another test in Jenna's Beach Boy triumph

No Lou Zing's steady progression as a 3-year-old continued on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park as the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion picked up his first Grand Circuit credit and showed a new dimension by being able to cut the mile and last to the wire, winning the $100,000 Jenna's Beach Boy in a life's-best 1:49 2/5.

Dexter Dunn put No Lou Zing on the front tonight, clearing Splash Brother (Trace Tetrick) before the 26 1/5 opening quarter, and when nobody attacked the favorite, Dunn kept him rolling, reaching the half in 55 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23.

Business picked up on the last turn and into the lane as Allywag Hanover (Tim Tetrick), who had popped out first-up from fifth in the backstretch, gained into second and was only a length back at three-quarters, but No Lou Zing countered and quickened to rebuff his challenge, then did the same when Splash Brother rolled up the passing lane, defeating that foe by a length. Allywag Hanover wound up third after the extended first-over push, followed by Clever Character (David Miller) and Sawyer's Desire (Ricky Macomber Jr.).

"He was really immature last year as a 2-year-old. His knees bothered him a little bit, and he just had no concept of what being a race horse actually entailed, so we ended up gelding him and turning him out," said victorious trainer Nancy Takter. "We've really been babying him all along. He's been racing off-the-pace. I was a little worried when he was on the front-end tonight because it's the first time he's ever cut a mile, but I guess now he's learned to do that.

"That was really rewarding actually to see him on the front and just see the maturity in him and to see just how much he's learned to become a race horse. Dexter's done a really good job with him, and Josert Fonseca, who is my assistant trainer, drove him earlier in the year and did a really good job just educating him."

The Jenna's Beach Boy wound up being a significant race for No Lou Zing as it was one of a limited number of stakes engagements he has on his calendar, and he got a chance to race at Harrah's Hoosier Park prior to the Breeders Crown.

"We actually didn't have him staked very much this year because he didn't really race much last year. This was actually one of the bigger races on his schedule, so we were kind of aiming for here, and it worked out good," stated Takter. "Obviously, if you can get an extra trip around the track prior to the Breeders Crown, that's always a good thing, too."

A gelding by Sweet Lou, No Lou Zing is owned by 3 Brothers Stables, Rojan Stables, and Caviart Farms. No Lou Zing, who was winless and earned no money in three attempts last year, has a record of 6-3-1 from ten starts in 2020, and he has now banked $322,418. He paid $4.00 to win after being sent off at even-money.