Harrah's Hoosier Park: Coach Stefanos moves from last to first in The Monument Circle

Coach Stefanos powered from last to first in the final quarter to take this year's edition of The Monument Circle for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Coach Stefanos grabbed the lion's share of the $190,000 purse after a final clocking of 1:49 4/5.

Admiral Hill (Andy Miller) was quick away from post one, but Why Not Now (Dexter Dunn) challenged him on the outside, and Stockade Seelster (David Miller), rather than taking a seat on the cones, elected to stay two-wide and track Why Not Now. Why Not Now forged his way past Admiral Hill after the 27 second opening quarter, and then Why Not Now yielded to sit in the two-hole behind Stockade Seelster prior to the 55 second half-mile marker.

Just past the half, Command (Todd McCarthy) came with a strong first-over bid out of the fifth spot, and he was able to march up uncovered to get nearly even with Stockade Seelster at the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters. The rest of the cover flow had trouble sticking to Command, leaving Coach Stefanos and driver Trace Tetrick fifth-over and tenth with only a quarter of a mile to go.

It was a calvary charge through the stretch, and multiple horses were in with a shot to get a Grand Circuit victory, but Coach Stefanos, who won his elimination and was fifth in the final of the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, flew on the far outside with a 25 1/5 individually-timed final panel and was able to get by Why Not Now and Stockade Seelster coming to the wire to grab the victory by half a length. Ervin Hanover (Yannick Gingras), who had gapped from second-over on the final bend, was the fourth-place finisher.

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"The colt's been really sharp lately with the bridle change. He's been really pacing hard all the way to the wire, and luckily, he just out-kicked them," relayed Tetrick post-race. "I talked to (trainer Erv Miller), and they said they're going to hold him over to next year and race him. I think he'll be a lot of fun in the future."

A gelded son of Tellitlikeitis, Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm and is owned by Kenneth Duffy, D & M Trading II LLC. and John Stefanos. He has 13 wins, eight seconds and a third from 26 starts, has banked $747,920 and returned $17.60 to win as a 7-1 offering.