Harrah's Hoosier Park: For Dayze heads Indiana Sire Stakes victors

Harrah's Hoosier Park played host to the first of six rounds of Indiana Sire Stakes for the 2-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, July 8, with a trio of rookies securing the first stakes victories of their young careers.

For Dayze kicked off the stakes action on the evening, rallying late to score as the 8-5 second choice in the $46,000 first split. Leaving from post five in the field of eight, driver John De Long floated For Dayze away mid-pack in fourth while Lidlbidy Pridy One (Kyle Wilfong) raced to the inside of Clear And Cool (Jordan Ross) to cut the quarter in 28 4/5. Clear And Cool cleared to the top on the backstretch, reaching the half in 58 4/5. For Dayze began to trot into contention on the outside, moving into third on the final turn before picking up the cover of Lidlbidy Pridy One, who popped the pocket on Clear And Cool at three-quarters in 1:28 4/5.

Lidlbidy Pridy One grabbed command from Clear And Cool at the top of the lane when For Dayze began to pick up steam to her outside. The two fillies battled the length of the lane, with For Dayze nosing out a game Lidlbidy Pridy One on the wire in 1:56 4/5 while Clear And Cool held for third, 1 1/2 lengths back.

The victory broke the maiden for the Roger Welch trainee in her second lifetime start after finishing second in her debut. Bred by Ernie Lambright, the daughter of Swan For All-Southwind Storm has banked $25,000 for owners William C. and William P. De Long.

The $45,500 second split saw an 8-1 upsetter as You Know Diamonds and Clint Coy led every step of the way. Coy hustled the Doug Rideout trainee out from post two, quickly assuming command of the field of seven through an opening quarter of 29 3/5. You Know Diamonds tapped the brakes to the half in 1:00 1/5 before she carried a 1 1/2 length lead to three-quarters in 1:30 3/5 over pocket-sitting Topville Ideal (Mike Peterson).

The pace quickened turning for home as Topville Ideal popped the pocket and applied pressure to the upset-minded leader. You Know Diamonds turned away that challenge but had two more new threats as 1-5 favorite Pastor's Delicacy (Kyle Wilfong) began to rally on the outside and Explosive Help (John De Long) charged up the cones. However, You Know Diamonds reached the wire first, a half-length clear of Pastor's Delicacy and three-quarters of a length better than Explosive Help to stop the timer in 1:58 4/5.

You Know Diamonds has won two of five and yet to finish worse than second for owners Julie Rideout and Alan White. The daughter of You Know You Do-Seven Diamonds was bred by Kevin Knepp and sports a bankroll of $29,237.

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The $46,000 third and final split of stakes saw Honeymoon and driver Jordan Ross convert a pocket trip into a victory as the 9-5 co-favorite. Ross secured the pocket from post four while Who Goes There (Jared Finn) trotted around her to grab an early lead through a first quarter of 28 3/5. Honeymoon was content to follow the leader to the half in 59 2/5 before she began to ease off the cones and move to Who Goes There's wheel at three-quarters in 1:29 3/5.

Trotting home in 27 4/5, Honeymoon put away a stubborn Who Goes There late in the lane to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:57 3/5. Swan Girl (Mike Oosting) finished third, 5-3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Robert Taylor trains the winning daughter of Don't Let'em-Memory who is owned by Backroad Stable and Beasty LLC. Honeymoon has now won three of four at two and offers a bankroll of $30,411.

Racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Wednesday, July 9 with a 14-race program set to begin at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The Wednesday card features a pair of Indiana Sire Stakes divisions for the 2-year-old pacing fillies, in addition to a $7,500 guaranteed early Pick 5 (races 1-5) and $10,000 guarantees in the late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and late Hoosier High 5 (race 14), with the latter two guarantees done in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.

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