Harrah's Hoosier Park: Hopeyaliketheshow helps Tetrick to six-bagger

Leading driver Trace Tetrick was on top of his game Friday (Aug. 30) night at Harrah's Hoosier Park, winning six of 13 on the card, headlined by a victory in Indiana Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing males with Hopeyaliketheshow. There was fun for all ages on the card as The Family Man closed from the clouds to take the second stakes event for rookies, while the classy 8-year-old Little Rocket Man romped in the Open Pace.

Hopeyaliketheshow was sent away as the 2-1 bettors' choice in the first of two $67,500 Sire Stakes contests with a red-hot Tetrick in the bike. Tetrick settled the favorite sixth early in the field of eight while Big Bad Moses (Ricky Macomber Jr.) cut the quarter in 27 4/5. Odds On Anubis (Pete Wrenn) was unable to find a seat on the first turn and forged to the front on the backstretch before the half of 57 1/5, while Hopeyaliketheshow took up the charge first-over and wheeled into third. Hopeyaliketheshow continued his brush to assume command entering the final turn before he paced away by 2 1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.

After turning for home, Hopeyaliketheshow continued to motor away from the chasers, as he opened up by four midway though the lane while the remainder of the field battled for minor spoils. Geared down late in a 27 1/5 final quarter, Hopeyaliketheshow crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear in 1:52 1/5. Big Bad Moses got up for second, while Odds On Anubis held for third.

Ron Burke trains the son of JK Endofanera, out of the Well Said mare Don't Forget. Hopeyaliketheshow has won three of seven to begin his career for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty LLC. and Knox Services. Bred by Randy, Tyler and Zane Wilt, the $100,000 yearling purchase at last fall's Hoosier Classic now sports earnings of $113,718.

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The Family Man teamed up with driver Mike Oosting and deployed late closing tactics to spring a mild 6-1 upset in the second section. Leaving from post two, The Family Man got away sixth as Freaky Feet Beast (Jordan Ross) sailed to the front to reach the quarter first in 27 1/5. After that, driver John De Long popped the pocket with 3-2 favorite Avanti to take over at the half in 56 seconds. Somemore Soaring (Trace Tetrick) glided first-over on the far turn to take on Avanti at three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, and they nearly seven lengths in front of The Family Man, who tipped off the cones from seventh.

Avanti had rebuffed the challenge of Somemore Soaring at the head of the stretch, reasserting himself at the top while The Family Man was still yet to find his best stride from sixth at the eight pole. The engine fired at the edge of the toteboard for The Family Man, who rocketed home in 26 1/5 to not only get up for the win, but open up on the line by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:51 4/5. Avanti stayed on for second, and Deal The Odds (Joey Putnam) rallied for third.

The Erv Miller trainee has won back-to-back and two of four on the season having bankrolled $45,014. The gelded son of Always A Virgin-Tia Maria Hanover is owned by the Ervin Miller Stable and Never 2 Late Stable. The Family Man was bred by Lyndar Stables.

Immediately following the stakes action and a lengthy rain delay, millionaire Little Rocket Man steamrolled to a front-end score in the $21,000 Open Pace. Scratched down to a field of five, driver John De Long quickly crossed over to the lead from the outside through a quarter of 26 4/5. The 4-5 favorite went unchallenged to the half in 54 4/5 before Coach Stefanos (Trace Tetrick) threatened from first-over in third at three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. The highly-anticipated battle would never shape up as Little Rocket Man splashed home in 26 seconds to throttle to a two length, 1:49 1/5 victory. Pocket-sitter Watching Our Coin N (Macomber Jr.) finished second, Coach Stefanos was third.

Ken Rucker trains the gelded son of Rockin Image-GT Miss Royal for owners Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman. A winner in nine of 12 this season, Little Rocket Man is a 63-time winner in his 110 start career with earnings of $1,337,299 .

In the very next race, Little Rocket Man's half-brother JK Victory (sired by JK Endofanera) paced to a 1:52 3/5 score for driver Trace Tetrick and trainer Ron Burke. It was career win number 15 for the 5-year-old gelding, who sports earnings of $456,509.

The week of racing concludes at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Saturday (Aug. 31) with a 12-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m.

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