Harrah's Hoosier Park: M-M's Bud, Martz Telly strike in Indiana Sires Stakes

Indiana Sires Stakes action continued at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, September 1 as the 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings stepped into the spotlight. Two $67,000 divisions of the fourth leg highlighted the 14-race program, and saw front-end victories by sons of Tellitlikeitis in M-M's Bud and Martz Telly.

Drawing the far outside post seven was no issue for M-M's Bud, who dazzled with a front-stepping lifetime-best performance to take the first flight. Driver Jay Cross hustled M-M's Bud off the gate, quickly crossing over the rail in the early stages to lay down a 27 2/5 opening-quarter as JD's King James and Jordan Ross settled into the pocket. M-M's Bud remained unchallenged up the backstretch as he maintained his lead to the halfway point in 55 4/5. The outer flow developed as driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. gave the race favorite, Noblesville, his marching orders from fourth, overcoming a few bobbles on the turn to continue his push first-over as M-M's Bud led to three-quarters in 1:24 3/5.

The rookie pacers turned for home with M-M's Bud leading the sprint to the wire and JD's King James and Noblesville in hot pursuit to his outside. Prestigious Prince and LeWayne Miller would split rivals in the lane to provide M-M's Bud one final test, with M-M's Bud prevailing behind the strength of a 26 2/5 final quarter to secure the victory by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. JD's King James held for third to round out the trifecta. M-M's Bud paid $9.20 for the victory.

Trained by Alvin Miller, who co-owns the gelding along with Ted Comerford and Marvin Schwartz, M-M's Bud picked up his fourth victory in eight career tries. Bred by Mervin Miller, the 1:51 clocking took a full second off of M-M's Bud's mark and pushed the career bankroll of the Tellitlikeitis-Climate Hanover gelding to $85,696.

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Martz Telly deployed similar front-stepping tactics to score his fourth consecutive victory in the second sire stakes clash on the card. Wrenn Jr. put Martz Telly into play immediately from post five, and they would find themselves to the outside of Rolling Image and Mike Oosting to the first quarter in 28 seconds. Martz Telly crossed over to the lead up the backstretch, and he had things his way on the engine to the half in 56 1/5. Play Action Pass and Trace Tetrick were the first to move from third as the field entered the final turn, but Martz Telly continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:24 4/5.

Martz Telly remained strong on the front in the stretch, digging in gamely to rebuff any challengers and sprinting home in 26 3/5 to score a convincing victory by just over a length in a lifetime-best 1:51 2/5. Rolling Image got up for the second spot, and 2023 Fox Stake champion, Tellmeitmatters, and John De Long rallied for third. Martz Telly returned $4.00 at the windows as the bettor's choice.

The victory was the fifth in six career starts for the Ron Burke trainee. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Frank Baldachino and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Martz Telly's bankroll surged into six figures, now sitting at $122,618. Bred by Martz Creek Farm, Martz Telly is a gelded son of Tellitlikeitis and is out of the Allamerican Native mare A And Gs Finest.

Racing continues Saturday, September 2 at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino with 12 races set to get underway at 7:00 p.m.

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