Harrah's Hoosier Park: Male pacers put on a show in Indiana Sires Stakes

A trio of Indiana Sires Stakes divisions for pacing colts and geldings were the featured attraction at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, August 18. There were two $67,500 events for the rookies and one $96,000 test for the 3-year-old competitors. It was a good night for sire Tellitlikeitis as his progeny swept all three races.

The 2023 Fox Stake winner Tellmeitmatters continued his winning ways and captured the first flight for the 2-year-olds after converting a pocket trip into a 1:52 1/5 score. Sent off as the bettors' second choice, Tellmeitmatters, with driver John DeLong in the bike, used a 25 4/5 closing kick to track down the pace-setting Play Action Pass and Trace Tetrick late in the lane and hold off M-M's Bud and Jay Cross on the far outside to get the victory. Tellmeitmatters returned $5.80 at the betting windows.

Trained by Roger Welch, the homebred son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters recorded his third win in five lifetime starts. Owned and bred by William P. DeLong and William C. DeLong, Tellmeitmatters pushed his lifetime bankroll to $72,730.

In the second showdown for the freshmen, Martz Telly scored in 1:51 4/5 with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the bike. Sent off as the heavy betting favorite, Martz Telly moved to the lead down the backside and held off the pocket-sitting Prestigious Prince and LeWayne Miller late in the lane to get the win by half a length. Warrior For Truth and Ricky Macomber Jr. rallied well late to get up for third. Martz Telly returned $2.80 for the victory and established a new lifetime-best clocking in the process.

Trained by Ron Burke, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-A And Gs Finest recorded his third straight victory and has now won four of five lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, F. Baldachino and Weaver Bruscemi, Martz Telly now sports a lifetime bankroll of $89,118. The victory was also one of four driving wins on the evening's 14-race card for Wrenn Jr. Martz Telly was bred by Martz Creek Farm.

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The 3-year-olds were up next, and they did not disappoint. It was a three-horse battle to the wire, with Erv Miller-trained Coach Stefanos getting the win by a neck in 1:49 1/5. Sent off as the public's second choice, Coach Stefanos went two-wide out of third approaching three-quarters and was able track down the pace-setting Why Not Now and Lewayne Miller in the final steps while also keeping pocket-sitter Buzzsaw Russ and John DeLong, who were in the passing lane, at bay.

With the win, Coach Stefanos recorded his fifth victory from seven seasonal starts. Owned in partnership by K.W. Duffy, D&M Trading, and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched sent his career purse earnings over the half million dollar mark. Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm.

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