Harrah's Hoosier Park: Fitterjake equals track record in Indiana Sire Stakes

Tying the Harrah's Hoosier Park track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies of 1:49 2/5 set by My Girl EJ in 2023, Fitterjake, driven by Anthony Miller for trainer Aaron Stutzman, wired the six-horse field to etch her name in Harrah's Hoosier Park history in the first group of Indiana Sire Stakes action for that group on Tuesday night.

Slotted into post one, Fitterjake did not skip a beat as she cruised to the early advantage, tailed by Kountry Legacy (Trace Tetrick) at the first quarter in 27 1/5. The top pair stretched the field on the backstretch as the pacers remained unchanged to the halfway mark in 54 4/5. Rounding over to the three-quarters in 1:22 3/5, Fitterjake held strong as the leader with the advancing Kountry Legacy on her heels. Through the homestretch, Fitterjake and Kountry Legacy went head-to-head as the slugfest advanced to the wire. Fitterjake would get the better of Kountry Legacy by a neck, while Owleo's Pride (Ricky Macomber Jr) held for third.

The winning Jk Endofanera-For Sharks Sake filly is owned and was bred by James Miller. Fitterjake stayed perfect in her career, now three-for-three with a lifetime earnings total of $70,500. Fitterjake paid $6.80 to win.

Wrapping up the INSS 2-year-old fillies pace, Mystical Jk, driven by Kyle Wilfong for trainer Jay Hochstetler, took the six-horse field for a ride, winning with ease in race eight.

Mystical Jk sprinted out of the wings from post four to the first quarter in 27 1/5, beating out Tellmehowitis (Marcus Miller). The field paced single-file before Alexis It Is (Anthony Miller) stormed alongside Mystical Jk at the halfway mark in 56 1/5. The leading duo were stuck together to the three-quarters in 1:24 before Mystical Jk went back to a clear lead in the upper part of the stretch. Mystical Jk continued to build momentum fromt here, pulling away from the field for a decisive victory in 1:50 4/5 and winning by 4 1/2 lengths. Tellemhowitis climbed to second, while Callie Rocks got up for third.

Mystical Jk is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Mary Buddig, Janet Schwartz, and South Of The Tracks Rac Inc. The Jk Endofanera-Mystical Carrie filly was bred by Mystical Marker Farms LLC. Mystical Jk earned her second win in INSS competition and boosted her bankroll to $72,920.

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In addition to the pacing fillies, 2-year-old trotting fillies took to the track with a pair of $66,500 divisions for their third leg of Indiana Sire Stakes, with Redice delivering a dominant effort in the first split with Atlee Bender aboard for trainer Erv Miller.

Away from post three as the 2-5 favorite, Redice tucked into third on the first turn while Prazana (John De Long) swept to the lead from the outside through a 28 second opening panel. Twister Sister (James Yoder) moved to the lead from the pocket, taking command before the half of 57 3/5 as Redice moved to the outside from third. Redice charged to the lead at three-quarters in 1:27 3/5 before trotting away and hiding in the stretch, opening up by seven lengths on the wire with Bender sitting chilly in the sulky in 1:54 4/5. Gladden (Trace Tetrick) rallied for second, with Twister Sister holding for third.

Redice has won two straight against Sire Stakes company at Hoosier, and three of five in her rookie campaign. The clocking was a new career-best for the daughter of Rebuff-Fuzzy Dice who was bred by Kjell Andersen, Lucas Wallin and Pieter Delis. Redice has banked $102,000 for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Anthony Lombardi and Stepbystep Racing.

Favorites swept the 2-year-old trotting filly divisions, with Dance Remix and driver Jordan Ross taking the second division to deliver a nice birthday present for trainer Henry Graber Jr.

Leaving from post three, Dance Remix trotted to the front-end on the opening turn, taking the field of eight to the first station in 28 3/5. Finish Big (Spence Taylor) brushed to the lead on the backstretch, pocketing the bettors' choice to the half in 57 2/5. Finish Big continued to trudge up front on the far turn before Dance Remix popped the pocket with Unburdened (Marcus Miller) flushing that cover at three-quarters in 1:27 2/5. Unburdened loomed in the stretch, applying pressure to Dance Remix, but could not reach with Dance Remix holding serve by a half-length in a career-best 1:55 2/5. In The Buff (Kyle Wilfong) rallied to secure the third spot.

Yet to be worse than second in three tries this year and winning twice, Dance Remix has banked $73,375 for owners S&R Racing Stables, Indiana Stables, and Alvin Graber Jr. The daughter of Rebuff-Antsy Dancey was bred by Richard Fry.

Live racing returns on Thursday (August 6) with a 14-race card featuring the $10,000 guaranteed late Pick 4 and the $10,000 guaranteed late Hoosier High 5. First post is set for 5:30 p.m. (EDT).

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