Harrah's Hoosier Park: Coach Stefanos calls winning play in Indiana Sires Stakes

Coach Stefanos, with driver Trace Tetrick in the bike, found the winner's circle in the featured event of the evening, the $97,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 16. Stopping the timer in 1:49 3/5, Coach Stefanos established a new lifetime mark and remained undefeated in two starts this season.

Leaving from post seven in the talented field of 11, Coach Stefanos left just enough to grab a seat along the rail in fifth. Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller were the quickest away through the opening quarter in 27 1/5 while Ifudntnomebynow and Brandon Bates grabbed the pocket seat.

As the field approached the half, John DeLong had Buzzsaw Russ out and firing, and the post time favorite grabbed the lead just past the half in a snappy 53 4/5. Buzzsaw Russ continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:22 1/5, but David Allan Whoa and Joey Putnam were on the attack with Coach Stefanos in tow. Using a 26 2/5 final panel, Coach Stefanos tipped off cover and dug in gamely late in the lane to track down his competitors and get the win by a head over Why Not Now. David Allan Whoa finished third. Coach Stefanos returned $5.40 to his backers at the betting windows.

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"I couldn't have asked for a better trip," Tetrick noted after the victory. "It worked out perfect for us. He's a super colt. Erv (Miller) and his team have done a great job with him, getting him ready and bringing him along. He qualified great and he's been very sharp in both his starts. He's a very talented, very versatile colt. You can do just about anything you want with him."

Trained by Erv Miller, the son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched has now won eight of 13 lifetime starts while bankrolling $318,805 for owners K W Duffy, D&M Trading IL LLC, and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos. Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm. The victory was also one of seven winners on the evening's program for Tetrick, Harrah's Hoosier Park's leading driver.

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