Harrah's Hoosier Park: Callie Rocks, Mystical JK score in Indiana Sire Stakes

Two-year-old pacing fillies began their Indiana Sire Stakes journey at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Wednesday, July 8 with a pair of divisions. Callie Rocks, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Tyler George, set the tone by winning the $65,500 first split. Meanwhile, Mystical JK, driven by Kyle Wilfong for trainer Jay Hochstetler, was shot out of a cannon down the stretch to take down the second section.

Slotted in post five, the post-time favorite Callie Rocks took a quick jump out of the gate, gliding along the outside to take the early lead past Skyway Elegant (Matt Krueger) and Ponda Era (Travis Seekman) to the first quarter in 27 2/5. Leading by two lengths, Callie Rocks maintained her strong start, firing past the halfway mark in 57 2/5. As Callie Rocks' lead grew to the third quarter in 1:25 4/5, Skyway Elegant was hanging onto second by a thread with Ponda Era (Travis Seekman) making a play first-over on the outside.

Finding an extra gear down the stretch with a final quarter in 26.2, Ponda Era made a late challenge but could not reach Callie Rocks, whose 27 1/5 last panel meant she held on by a quarter-length in 1:53. JK's Fast (John De Long) shook loose late to rally for third, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

Owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber and Stephen Stoll, Callie Rocks added her winning paycheck to boost her lifetime earnings to $41,306 for her third career win. The daughter of Rockin Image-Cat Race was bred by David Fry.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

It was a much different route to victory for Mystical JK and driver Kyle Wilfong, as the duo went from last-to-first in the final stanza en route to the mild upset victory.

Leaving from post five, Mystical JK was away fifth in the early stages while Kountry Legacy (John De Long) cut the opening quarter in 28 seconds. Owleo's Pride (Ricky Macomber Jr.) brushed up the backstretch to the front, taking control before the half in 56 1/5. The fillies stacked up slightly entering the final turn, before Owleo's Pride continued to three-quarters in 1:25 while under fire from Fantastech (Marcus Miller), while Mystical JK took the worst of the log-jam and was shuffled to last, five lengths back.

Owleo’s Pride turned away Fantastech in the lane before Mystical JK began to wind up her rally on the wide side, blitzing home in 26 1/5 to nail Owleo's Pride by a nose on the wire in 1:52 1/5. Fantastech held for third, 1 1/2 lengths back of the top two.

It was the first win in two tries for Mystical JK, a daughter of JK Endofanera-Mystical Carrie. She now has $32,500 banked for owners Connie Hochstetler, Mary Buddig, Janet Schwartz and South of the Tracks Racing, Mystical JK was bred by Mystical Marker Farms.

Live racing at Harrah's Hoosier Park continues tomorrow (July 9), offering more Indiana Sire Stakes action with the first leg for the 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot. The program will also include $10,000 guarantees on the late Pick 4 and the late Hoosier High 5 done in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program. There is also a carryover of $3,301 in the early Pick 5 (Races 1-5), with that pool being guaranteed at $15,000.

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