Harrah's Hoosier Park: Al Papi defeats Melillo after stretch slugfest in Monument Circle

Al Papi put on a dazzling display with a 1:47 4/5 stakes record following an all-out war with stablemate Melillo in the Grade 2 $160,000 Monument Circle for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Leaving from the second tier in post ten with regular pilot Yannick Gingras aboard, Al Papi was away third from the outset after Melillo crossed over in front of Swiss Lights (Trace Tetrick) to cut the opening quarter in 26 2/5. Melillo tapped the brakes on the backstretch, backing things down to the half in 54 4/5 before Gingras right-lined Al Papi and began his first-over charge. The pace quickened around the final turn, with Al Papi racing a half-length back to the outside of Melillo at three-quarters in 1:21 4/5.

Speeding into the stretch, Al Papi looked Melillo in the eye as the Ron Burke trainees began to separate from the rest of the field. Trading haymakers the length of the lane, Al Papi delivered the knockout blow late to edge out Melillo by a neck on the wire. Swiss Lights was third, 3 3/4 lengths back of the top pair.

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The clocking obliterated the previous stakes record of 1:48 3/5, established by Cattlewash in 2020 and matched by Bulldog Hanover in 2021.

The winning millionaire homebred son of Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi. Al Papi has won six of 18 this season, earning $1,181,518 and putting his career earnings just shy of $1.6 million. Al Papi will be pointed to Dover Downs for the Matron and Progress Pace to conclude his sophomore campaign. Al Papi paid $4.40 to win as the 6-5 favorite.