Harrah's Hoosier Park: 3YO male trotters slug it out in Indiana Sires Stakes

Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings were in the spotlight on Thursday (Aug. 22) at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with two $50,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes on the 13-race card. CS Flying Co-Pilot capitalized on a perfect pocket trip to soar to victory in the first split, while Dashing Danny dominated with his fourth straight win in the second.

The first flight served as the eighth race on the card where CS Flying Co-Pilot was sent off at 5-1 with leading driver Trace Tetrick in the bike from the far outside post seven. CS Flying Co-Pilot found himself parked to the outside of Musclefantastic (driven by Robert Taylor) as the two dueled for the lead to the first quarter in 27 3/5. CS Flying Co-Pilot cleared to the lead only briefly before Knowyoucando (Kyle Wilfong) took command from third and led to the half in 56 3/5. Knowyoucando was a loose leader on the final turn, motoring to three-quarters 2 1/2 lengths clear of CS Flying Co-Pilot in 1:25 4/5.

CS Flying Co-Pilot erased the deficit at the top of the lane before Tetrick tipped to the outside and grabbed a short lead midway though the lane. CS Flying Co-Pilot put away Knowyoucando, but now faced a two-pronged attack from Musclefantastic up the passing lane and Flirtnwiththepilot (Pete Wrenn) to his outside. Digging in late in the lane, CS Flying Co-Pilot trotted home in 28 seconds to cross the wire a half-length clear in a career-best 1:54 1/5. Musclefantastic finished second and Flirtnwiththepilot was third.

Doug Rideout trains the four-time winner in 12 seasonal outings for owners Flying Eagle Stable and Darin Miller. The gelded son of Pilot Discretion-DC Jewel was bred by John Stoll and has banked $82,410 on the season and $145,459 for his career.

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Dashing Danny immediately followed and delivered convincingly at 1-9 with regular pilot Kyle Wilfong aboard in the second section. Leaving from post six, Dashing Danny found himself in the middle of a three-across battle for the lead entering the first turn before landing in the pocket while Ira Who (Jared Finn) crossed over to reach the quarter first in 27 2/5. Dashing Danny was shuffled to third on the backstretch when Elhelpski (Pete Wrenn) was given his marching orders from third and took command on the way to the halfway point in 57 seconds. Wilfong tugged the right line and Dashing Danny quickly accelerated alongside the leader as Elhelpski reached three-quarters with a narrow lead in 1:27.

The bettor's choice blew right by to the lead turning for home, trotting clear by 3 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole. Crossing the wire a geared-down winner, Dashing Danny stopped the clock in 1:54 3/5, winning by three lengths over longshots A Blue Million (Mike Peterson) and First Option (Joey Putnam), who finished second and third, respectively.

Dashing Danny has won five of six to begin his sophomore campaign for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who also owns along with Pollack Racing. The gelded son of Dover Dan-Sashay sports earnings of $138,750 this year while going over $300,000 lifetime following his 14th career victory. Dashing Danny was bred by Steve Stewart and Black Creek Farm.

Racing continues on Friday (Aug. 23) night, and Sabonis returns to Harrah's Hoosier Park in search of his ninth straight victory following his triumph in the $300,000 Milstein Memorial at Northfield in his last outing. Sabonis goes postward in race seven on Friday, the second grouping of the penultimate leg of Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Two Sire Stakes divisions for the 2-year-old trotting fillies are also featured on the Friday card, to go along with the Hoosier Park return of millionaire and hometown hero, Little Rocket Man, in the $21,000 Open Pace. First post for the 13-race Friday card is 6:15 p.m.

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