Harrah's Hoosier Park: Eugene The Genius, Sure Did double up in Indiana Sires Stakes

Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings took to the track at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Saturday (Aug. 24) with a pair of $66,500 Indiana Sires Stakes divisions, with round four mirroring the results from leg three. Eugene The Genius continued his winning ways with a career-best effort to take the first split, while Sure Did went first-up once again for his second straight stakes score in the second tilt.

Sent off as the 4-5 bettor's choice and with regular pilot Mike Oosting aboard, Eugune The Genius left from post five in the field of eight. Oosting got away in good order with Eugene The Genius, landing the favorite in the pocket while Starlitfranknstein (driven by Trace Tetrick) secured the front through a first quarter of 28 2/5. Starlitfranknstein had things his way to the half in 58 1/5 before Tetrick let out on the lead on the final turn, trotting 2 1/2 lengths clear of Eugene The Genius at three-quarters in 1:26 4/5.

Euguene The Genius tipped off the cones turning for home, then reached the leader's wheel as the two raced well clear of the rest with an eighth of a mile to go. Trotting home smartly in 27 1/5, Euguene The Genius surged by Starlitfranknstein late in the lane to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear in 1:54 2/5. Starlitfranknstein finished second and Kody Kickstand (Ricky Macomber Jr.) finished third.

Trained by Missy Essig, Eugene The Genius has been nearly perfect to begin his career, winning five of his first six outings. Bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables, the gelded son of Helpisontheway-Muscle Baby Doll has banked $122,375.

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Sure Did followed suit and delivered as the 1-2 favorite in the second section, teaming up with driver Marvin Luna to take down the scratched-down field of seven. Leaving from post four, Sure Did landed in the third spot early while High Speed Swan (Mike Oosting) cut the opening quarter in 28 3/5. Oosting tapped the brakes to the half in 59 1/5 before Luna wheeled Sure Did first-over and into second on the final turn, 2 1/2 lengths back of High Speed Swan at three-quarters in 1:28 4/5.

Sure Did quickly closed the gap at the top of the stretch, motoring alongside of High Speed Swan to grab a short lead midway through the lane. Speeding home in 27 2/5, Sure Did powered away by two lengths on the line to stop the clock in 1:56 3/5. High Speed Swan held for the place spot over a rallying Mehelpingyou (Jordan Ross).

A winner in four of nine on the year, Sure Did is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. for owners Matthew Miller and John Mcgill. Sporting earnings of $94,768, the gelded son of You Know You Do-Challax Hanover was bred by John Bontrager.

Racing returns to Harrah's Hoosier Park on Tuesday (Aug. 27) with a 13-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The card gets underway with a $7,500 guaranteed early Pick 5 ($1,362.27 carryover) in races 1-5, to go along with the $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High Five in the 13th and final race.

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