Harrah's Hoosier Park: Bridge To Jesse's trots fastest mile in track history

After a track record-equaling mile by Lather Up in the $330,000 Dan Patch Stakes on Friday, Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s track surface continued to sizzle on Saturday, August 10 as the evening’s 10-race card was highlighted by a track record performance in the featured event of the evening. Bridge To Jesse’s, with driver John DeLong in the sulky, became Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s newest track record holder with a 1:51 1/5 performance in the $20,000 Open Trot.

Using an impressive 26 3/5 closing kick, Bridge To Jesse’s used the long Hoosier Park stretch to his advantage and rallied from well off-the-pace to win by three lengths. The 1:51 1/5 clocking marks the fastest trotting mile ever over Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s oval, a mark that was previously held by Homicide Hunter with a 1:51 2/5 mile in Grand Circuit action in 2017.

Leaving from post five in abbreviated field of six, Bridge To Jesse’s was unhurried from the gate and settled along the rail in fifth. Two OB Wonkenobi and Sam Widger were the quickest away from the gate and grabbed the lead through the opening panel in a snappy 26 2/5. Churita and Trace Tetrick also left with authority to grab the coveted pocket seat, with Perfect Chapter As and Peter Wrenn next in line third. As the field hit the second station in 55 2/5, Ross Leonard had Donatover pointed to the front, and he grabbed the lead approaching the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5.

Just as the leaders began to tire on the front, Bridge To Jesse’s was winding up to make his attack. DeLong tipped Bridge To Jesse’s out in the middle of the track, and the veteran trotter powered home to get the win. Churita, who is quickly approaching $1 million in lifetime purse earnings, rallied well for second, while Donatover, the post time favorite, held on for third. Bridge To Jesse’s returned $6.20 at the betting windows.

Bridge To Jesse’s is trained by Roger Welch, who also co-owns the 6-year-old trotter in partnership with W. DeLong, W. DeLong, and R. DeLong. With the win, the Indiana Sires Stakes champion recorded his second win of the season from 11 starts and established a new lifetime best in the process. The gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse-Bridge To Nowhere increased his lifetime bankroll to $863,605 and sports a 80-36-17-10 lifetime record. The win was one of two winners on the card for trainer Roger Welch and one of three victories for driver John DeLong on the evening’s program.

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