Harrah's Hoosier Park: Maidens break through in Indiana Sires Stakes

Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings took center stage at Harrah's Hoosier Park with their first leg of Indiana Sires Stakes on Friday, July 12. The 14-race card featured two divisions and saw This JK Rocks and Hopeyaliketheshow pick up the victories.

Sent off as the 8-5 second-choice in the $67,500 first flight, This JK Rocks teamed up with driver Joey Putnam in the scratched down field of seven. Putnam fired This JK Rocks to the front from the gate, quickly clearing the field before the first turn from post seven to lead at the quarter in 27 4/5. Even-money favorite Special Pete (LeWayne Miller) was unable to find a seat on the first turn before pushing to the lead on the backstretch. Special Pete was quickly covered up just prior to the half by Checking Out (Trace Tetrick), and Checking Out reached the half in 55 4/5 as This JK Rocks watched from third. Checking Out brought the field to three-quarters in 1:25 1/5 with Special Pete and This JK Rocks each beginning to tip off of the rail.

Turning for home, Special Pete moved from second to quickly take command, with This JK Rocks beginning to roll to his outside. Surging home in 26 1/5, This JK Rocks was able to nail a stubborn Special Pete by a neck on the wire in 1:52, while Luxury Virgin (James Yoder) rallied for third.

Trained by Erv Miller, the maiden-breaking victory came in the second career start for This JK Rocks, who is owned by Engel Stable of Il Llc., Louis Willinger and Doug Overhiser. Bred by Victory Hill Farm, This JK Rocks is a gelded son of JK Endofanera and is out of the Rockin Image mare This Peach Rocks.

The $68,000 second split saw Hopeyaliketheshow put on a speed display with a front-end victory. Driver Devon Tharps and Hopeyaliketheshow pushed the gate away from post five, quickly grabbing a two length lead over pocket-sitting Avanti (Brandon Bates) at the quarter in 28 2/5. Hopeyaliketheshow had things his way to the half in 58 4/5 while 4-5 favorite Somemore Soaring (Trace Tetrick) moved first-over into third. Hopeyaliketheshow countered on the final turn as Somemore Soaring ratcheted up the pressure to his outside, reaching three-quarters within a half-length of the leader in 1:26 4/5.

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Hopeyaliketheshow responded impressively in the stretch, rebuffing the challenge of Somemore Soaring to open up by four lengths midway down the lane. Powering home in 26 2/5 with the earplugs still in, Hopeyaliketheshow crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths clear to stop the timer in 1:53 1/5. Avanti finished second, with Somemore Soaring third. Hopeyaliketheshow paid $7.80 to win.

The victory was the first in the third career start for Hopeyaliketheshow who is trained by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Beasty LLC. and Knox Services Inc. Hopeyaliketheshow is a son of JK Endofanera, is out of the Well Said mare Don't Forget, and was bred by Randy, Tyler and Zane Wilt.

Earlier on the card, 9-year-old veteran General Dolan took the $21,000 Open 1/Open 2 pace in front-end fashion, fending off a late challenge by Low Rider (Marvin Luna) in a lifetime best 1:48 4/5. Trained by Tyler George, the gelded son of Rockin Image-Townes Party Girl is now a 46-time career winner, having banked $612,342 lifetime for owners John and Robert Esposito.

The week of racing concludes on Saturday, July 13 at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a 12-race card set to get underway with a first post of 7:00 p.m. The Saturday card will feature a lone $95,500 section of leg four of the Indiana Sires Stakes for the sophomore pacing fillies in the tenth race. On the wagering side, Saturday will feature an $8,000 guaranteed early Pick 5 (races 1-5) with a carryover of $1,532.88.

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