Harrah's Hoosier Park: 3YO filly trotters compete in Indiana Sires Stakes

Sophomore trotting fillies kicked off the second half of their Indiana Sires Stakes schedule on Tuesday, August 22 at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Two divisions of leg five highlighted the 14-race card, and the evening would belong to sire Helpisontheway as his daughters provided him a sweep.

Stakes action got underway in the 12th race on the card, and Helpoftheseason and Peter Wrenn teamed up for a gutsy win in the $49,000 first split. Leaving from the rail, Helpoftheseason protected her position on the inside, getting away second in the field of seven as LeWayne Miller hustled Yo Beth D to the front from the far outside through an opening quarter of 27 2/5. Wrenn wouldn't be content to sit the pocket for long in the early stages, wheeling Helpoftheseason out from second up the backstretch to take over from Yo Beth D through a hot opening-half of 55 3/5. Helpoftheseason maintained control on the far turn and to the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters as 3-2 favorite Swanya and John De Long jumped it off in tight quarters from fourth while beginning her rally.

Helpoftheseason led the fillies into the stretch, but was set to face a two-pronged attack as Yo Beth D launched her bid up the passing lane, and Country Mamma and Trace Tetrick applied pressure on the outside. Utilizing a 28 2/5 final quarter, Helpoftheseason dug in gamely to hold Yo Beth D at bay by a head on the wire, stopping the timer in 1:53 4/5. Country Mamma and Tetrick were third, with Swanya rebounding and rallying for fourth after the miscue.

Trained by Melanie Wrenn, Helpoftheseason scored her third victory in seven seasonal outings for owners Wrenn Racing LLC., John Schmucker and Running Wild Stables. Bred by Ben Wittmer Jr., the daughter of Helpisontheway-Torches Star has banked $85,545 in 2023 and pushed her career bankroll to $230,845.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

In the $48,500 second section, Naturdays delivered as the bettor's choice, scoring as the 3-5 favorite. Starting from the far outside in the field of six, driver Matt Krueger opted to take back off the wings of the gate, landing in fifth as Myrll Vally and LeWayne Miller cut the opening quarter in 28 seconds. Myrll Vally continued to have her way up the backstretch as the trotting fillies marched to the half in straight alignment in 56 4/5. Pressure would come to Myrll Vally on the far turn as Atta Girl Dani and Trace Tetrick led the charge first-over entering the far turn, with Naturdays and Krueger in tow as Myrll Vally brought the field to three-quarters in 1:25 4/5.

As the field turned for home, Krueger gave Naturdays her cue, launching off cover and quickly grabbing a two-length lead in the lane. Powering home behind a 27 3/5 final quarter, Naturdays fended off a late bid from Swan Fancy and John De Long up the passing lane to score by just over two lengths in 1:54. Myrll Vally held for the show spot.

The victory was the third consecutive on the season for Matt Rheinheimer trainee and fourth in eight starts in her sophomore campaign. Owned by Alton, Debra and Brackton Miller, Naturdays pushed her seasonal earnings to $99,870 and her career bankroll over $160,000. Bred by Mervin Lehman, Orla Jay Bontrager, John Lengacher Jr. and Black Creek Farm, Naturdays is out of the Muscle Mass mare Windsongmusclelady.

Racing action continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Wednesday, August 24 with a 14-race card featuring two Indiana Sires Stakes contests each for the 2-year-old trotting males and fillies. Due to the forecasted excessive heat throughout the week, first post for the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday cards at Harrah's Hoosier Park will be 7:00 p.m., with the card for Thursday, August 24 cancelled.

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