Harrah's Hoosier Park: Dancingdreamer, Swiss Lights remain unblemished

Fresh off a dazzling 1:50 4/5 score in his career debut, Dancingdreamer backed that effort up with another decisive victory in the first leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday (July 11), while Swiss Lights changed tactics tonight and raced from off-the-pace to score in the second division.

Dancingdreamer and driver Aaron Stutzman were bet down to 1-9 in the first of two $66,500 splits, floating out from post five to land in fourth early while Fire Inside (Kyle Wilfong) left aggressively from the rail to cut the quarter in 28 seconds. Fire Inside brought the field of seven to the half in 56 1/5 when Stutzman moved the favorite off the cones. Dancingdreamer quickly powered alongside the leader on the turn, moving around the bend a little wide but getting up to second and to within a half-length of Fire Inside at three-quarters in 1:23 4/5.

Stutzman gave Dancingdreamer a few taps of the whip at the top of the lane, and the youngster quickly responded by powering clear. Pacing into a homestretch headwind, Dacingdreamer paced a last quarter of 27 2/5 to romp by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:51 1/5. Mystical Rock It (Trace Tetrick) rallied late to get by Fire Inside for second.

Stuzman also trains Dancingdreamer, who is owned by Desyllas Racing, William Beck and Jeffrey Eckburg. The $13,000 bargain buy from last fall's Midwest Classic Mixed Sale is now two-for-two with earnings of $40,750. Luckiana Farm bred the son of Rockin Image-Doc's Diva.

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The second division saw another son of Rockin Image win his second straight to start his career, as Swiss Lights and Ricky Macomber Jr. rallied late to win as the 2-1 second choice. Leaving from post two, Macomber wrestled Swiss Lights into third early while Aces And Cinches (Daryl Bontrager) raced to the top through an opening quarter of 27 3/5. The field was in straight alignment on the backstretch to the half in 56 2/5 with Aces And Cinches continuing to lead and 4-5 favorite JK The Great (Marcus Miller) on his back in the pocket. Macomber Jr. waited for Miller to move JK The Great around the turn to follow his cover while Aces And Cinches led to three-quarters in 1:25 3/5.

Turning for home, JK The Great powered to the lead with Swiss Lights still on the Miller helmet midway through the stretch. Swiss Lights ripped off cover at the eighth pole and began to eat into JK The Great's lead late, pacing home in 26 3/5 to nail the favorite on the wire by a half-length in 1:52 4/5. Sogie (Atlee Bender) rallied for third at 38-1.

Ricky Macomber Jr. also trains Swiss Lights for owners Doug Overhiser, Arnold Manders and Joseph Vieira. The gelded son of Rockin Image-Shes Lights Out was bred by Merlie Schwartz and now owns a bankroll $37,850.

While the youngsters shined bright in winning their second career races, the 9-year-old vet Little Rocket Man went on to win his 75th career race in the $22,000 Open Pace. Mike Oosting drove the 1-9 favorite, who had to press on the lead after failing to find a seat in line through a quarter in 26 seconds before clearing to the top through a blistering half of 53 2/5. Pressure immediately came to Little Rocket Man around the last turn, with Golden Bay N (Trace Tetrick) racing to the leader's wheel through three-quarters in 1:21 3/5. The ageless wonder turned away the challenge before pacing home in 26 2/5 to manhandle the sextet in 1:48 to match the fastest mile of the 2025 meet thus far. He shares that honor with Alta Revelry N (John De Long), who finished second to Little Rocket Man Friday, while A Cool Moment (Joey Putnam) rallied for third.

Trained by Ken Rucker for owners Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman, Little Rocket Man surpassed $1.8 million in career earnings following the victory. The son of Rockin Image-GT Miss Royal has now hit the board 100 times in his 128-start career.

Racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 12 with a 14-race program set to begin at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The Saturday card features a pair of Indiana Sire Stakes divisions for the 3-year-old pacing fillies, in addition to a $1,767 carryover in the early Pick 5 (races 1-5) and $7,500 guaranteed pool in the late Hoosier High 5 (race 14).

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