Harrah's Hoosier Park: 3YO male trotters duel in Indiana Sires Stakes

Indiana Sires Stakes continued at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Thursday, June 13, with two divisions of the second round for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings featured on the 14-race card. Sire You Know You Do completed the stakes sweep on the night, with Gruesome Twosome and Knowyoucando each scoring in their respective event.

Leaving from post three in the field of five with trainer Daryl Bontrager doing the driving, Gruesome Twosome grabbed command early from fellow leg one winner Dashing Danny (Kyle Wilfong) to lead to the quarter in 28 3/5. The four chasers were content to allow Gruesome Twosome to have things his way on the backstretch, leading the field to the halfway point in 57 2/5. A pair of breakers on the far turn allowed Gruesome Twosome and Dashing Danny to lift and separate from the field on the way to three-quarters, with the 4-5 co-favorites reaching that station in 1:25 4/5.

After turning for home, Gruesome Twosome reached the top of the lane with Dashing Danny in hot pursuit on the Bontrager helmet. Despite the homestretch headwind, Gruesome Twosome powered home in 27 3/5, putting distance between himself and his pursuer midway down the lane. Dashing Danny re-rallied late in the lane to reach the leader's wheel crossing the line, but victory belonged to Gruesome Twosome in a lifetime-best effort of 1:53 2/5. Water Torpedo (Mike Oosting) completed the trifecta, with Gruesome Twosome paying $3.60 to win.

Bontrager co-owns the son of You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go along with Ira Steinberg. Bred by Merle Yoder, Gruesome Twosome is undefeated through two starts of his sophomore campaign, having banked $275,625 lifetime following his eighth career victory in 11 outings.

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The $49,500 second split saw Knowyoucando pull the upset, capitalizing on a pocket trip for his maiden-breaking victory. Driver Atlee Bender found the pocket off the gate while Ira Who (Jared Finn) cut the 28 2/5 opening quarter for the field of five. The order remained unchanged to the halfway point with Ira Who taking the quintet to that point in a slowed-down 58 4/5 before leading to three-quarters unchallenged in 1:28 1/5.

Ira Who brought the field to the top of the stretch before Bender tugged the right line and popped out of the pocket with Knowyoucando. Trotting home in 27 3/5, Knowyoucando powered to the lead in deep stretch to cross the wire three-parts of a length in front over a hard-charging A Blue Million (Mike Peterson), while Ira Who held for third. Sent off at 9-1, Knowyoucando paid $21.40 for the victory.

Trained by Jeff Cullipher, who co-owns along with Pollack Racing LLC., Knowyoucando rattled off three straight runner-up finishes to begin his 3-year-old campaign before breaking through with the Sire Stakes score. Bred by Dale Wittmer and Danny Ray Graber, the gelded son of You Know You Do-Appomattox Lady has banked $31,300 at three following just a lone start at age two.

Racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday, June 14, where the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings step into the spotlight with a pair of $50,000 Indiana Sires Stakes divisions. Additionally, the Friday night card will conclude with a $10,000 guarantee on the Hoosier High 5 in the race 14 finale. The Friday night card gets underway at 6:15 p.m.

On Saturday (June 15), Breakfast at the Hop will once again return to the Hoosier Park track apron. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., guests may enjoy complimentary donuts and coffee to go along with baby races. Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke will join Hoosier Park on-air analysts Emily Gaskin and Jacob Rheinheimer to discuss the qualifying action and answer any fan questions from those present at The Hop. Viewers may also stream the qualifiers live on the Hoosier Park AV YouTube Channel along with the commentary. First post for the Saturday qualifiers is 10 a.m.

For more information on the 2024 live racing season, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

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