Harrah's Hoosier Park: Buzzsaw Russ, Flirtin JK victorious in Indiana Sires Stakes

Indiana Sires Stakes action continued at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday night with two $68,000 divisions for the 2-year-old-pacing colts and geldings highlighting the 14-race card. It was leg three of six for the group as they looked to secure crucial points for the $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals on October 14.

In the first split, going off as race 10 on the card, Buzzsaw Russ would reward the betting public's backing as the 2-5 choice. Leaving from post position three, John De Long hustled Buzzsaw Russ into the pocket position as Art It Is and Brandon Bates took the field to the quarter in a solid 27 seconds. Art It Is remained unchallenged on the engine through a half of 56 1/5 before Trace Tetrick hustled the Fox Stake champion, Coach Stefanos, into the mix first-over to the leader's wheel at three-quarters in 1:23 4/5.

In the stretch, Coach Stefanos and Tetrick forged to the lead as Buzzsaw Russ and De Long patiently waited for the passing lane. Buzzsaw Russ would explode up the rail in the final eighth to track down Coach Stefanos in the shadow of the wire and score the victory in a lifetime-best 1:51 1/5. Art It Is would hold for third to round out the trifecta.

It was the third victory in four career starts for the Missy Essig-trained gelding by Rockin Image and out of the Yankee Cruiser mare Up Front Cruiser. Bred by Devon Beech and Devon Knepp, Buzzsaw Russ has now banked $84,160 for owners Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver.

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In the second flight in the evening's 12th race, it would be Flirtin JK and Ricky Macomber Jr. turning in an impressive effort to pull off the upset at 12-1. Leaving from post six, Flirtin JK would get away fifth in the field of seven as Trace Tetrick guided the heavily-favored and unbeaten J B Gram to the front at the quarter in 28 seconds. J B Gram maintained his lead through a half of 56 seconds before leading the field to three-quarters in 1:24 2/5 as Flirtin JK and Macomber Jr. launched their bid from fourth on the far turn, six lengths behind the leader.

In the lane, Flirtin JK used a 26 3/5 final quarter to gobble up ground and make up the deficit, joining J B Gram on the lead late in the stretch before getting up by a length and a quarter on the line to score in 1:52 1/5. J B Gram would hold for second; Adam Twelve and Joey Putnam finished third.

Trained by Jamie Macomber, who also co-owns the gelding alongside breeder James Stonecipher, Flirtin JK picked up his second win in five career starts and has now earned $54,470. The 1:52 1/5 time was a lifetime-best for the son of JK Endofanera-Mcflirty (McArdle).

In other action on the Friday night card, Tellmeaboutit bounced back a week after a ninth-place effort in the $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes to Bulldog Hanover with an eye-popping 1:47 4/5 front-end score in the $22,000 Open Pace with Mike Oosting aboard. Little Rocket Man and De Long would rally for second, with Mac's Big Boy and Trace Tetrick finishing third.

The 1:47 4/5 effort was a lifetime-best for the two-time Indiana Sires Stakes champion son of Tellitlikeitis who has now pushed his gaudy career bankroll to $743,065 for owners Twila Harts and Alvin Miller. Miller also trains the 6-year-old gelding. The 1:47 4/5 time is the fastest mile of the 2022 meet thus far at Harrah's Hoosier Park, surpassing the 1:48 mark previously held by Sectionline Bigry.

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