Harrah's Hoosier Park: Freshmen male trotters duel in Indiana Sires Stakes

Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings took center stage at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Thursday (Aug. 15) with two divisions for their third leg of Indiana Sires Stakes highlighting the 13-race card. Despite rain throughout much of the early portion of the program creating a sloppy track, Sure Did and Eugene The Genius made the most of the mud to win their respective tilts.

Sure Did was hammered late at the betting windows, sent off as the 3-5 favorite from post three with driver Marvin Luna in the bike in the $67,000 first flight. Luna settled Sure Did in fourth early while Siesta Sandman (driven by Peter Wrenn) crossed over from post nine to reach the quarter first in 27 3/5. Unable to find a spot on the pylons on the first turn, Tarzan (Mike Oosting) forged to the front on the backstretch, leading the field to the halfway point in 57 3/5. Luna tipped Sure Did from fourth to begin his first-over grind, moving into third on the final turn but spotting Tarzan three lengths at three-quarters in 1:27 4/5.

At the top of the stretch, Sure Did continued to advance, matching strides with Tarzan as the two battled noses apart with an eighth of a mile to go. After dueling with Tarzan the length of the stretch, Sure Did edged clear in the final strides to snag the victory, a half-length in front in a career-best of 1:56 2/5. Ponda Rocky (Trace Tetrick) lunged late to nose out his Erv Miller stablemate, Tarzan, for the place spot.

Walter Haynes Jr. trains Sure Did, who has now won three of eight in his rookie campaign. Owned by Matthew Miller and John McGill, Sure Did sports career earnings of $61,518. John Bontrager Jr. bred the gelded son of You Know You Do-Chillax Hanover who was a $19,000 yearling purchase at last fall's Hoosier Classic.

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Eugene The Genius rebounded from the first defeat of his career in leg two with a victory in the $66,500 second section. Sent off at 5-2 from post two and with regular pilot Mike Oosting in the bike, Eugene The Genius got away in the pocket position as 1-5 favorite Starlitfranknstein (Trace Tetrick) took command to the quarter in 28 4/5. The field showed their respect to the two favorites on top, remaining in straight alignment with Starlitfranknstein reaching the half unchallenged in 58 2/5. Starlitfranknstein put two lengths of separation between himself and Eugene The Genius, who pursued from second at three-quarters in 1:27 2/5.

Eugene The Genius popped the pocket at the top of the lane, but he appeared to be rebuffed by Starlitfranknstein, who trotted away by 4 1/2 lengths midway through the lane. Despite Tetrick's best efforts to gather the youngster, Starlitfranknstein threw in a few steps late in the lane before jumping it off while seemingly home free, leaving Eugene The Genius to inherit the lead at the edge of the toteboard, with High Speed Swan (John De Long) posing a threat to his inside. Eugene The Genius was able to hold the challenger at bay and cross the wire a length clear from High Speed Swan in 1:55 4/5. Volo Cancellato (Jordan Ross) rallied for the show spot.

The 1:55 4/5 clocking was a lifetime-best for the Missy Essig trainee, who is now a winner in four of five outings. Owned by Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver, Eugene The Genius boasts career earnings of $89,125. The gelded son of Helpisontheway-Muscle Baby Doll was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stable and was a $75,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Hoosier Classic.

The sire stakes-winning drivers led the way on the card in victories, with Marvin Luna driving four winners and Mike Oosting driving three.

Racing continues on Friday, Aug. 16 with a 13-race card slated to get underway with a first post of 6:15 p.m. Two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will serve as the 11th and 12th race on the evening, with the 13th and final race featuring a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High Five.

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