Harrah's Hoosier Park: Odds On Mr Mamba ties track record in Indiana Sire Stakes blowout

Odds On Mr Mamba took his first shot against Indiana Sire Stakes competition on Friday (Aug. 29) and made Harrah's Hoosier Park history in the process, as the gelding joined Fulfullnmydestiny and My Girl EJ as the fastest 2-year-old in the track's history with his 1:49 2/5 scorcher.

The first of two $66,000 Indiana Sire Stakes splits for rookie pacing males served as the Friday night lid-lifter where Odds On Mr Mamba and driver Pete Wrenn left from post four as the 4-5 favorite in the field of six. Odds On Mr Mamba got away in third as Wrenn sought out the helmet of Aaron Stutzman and Dancingdreamer, who took the pocket spot behind Rock My Memory (Trace Tetrick) through an opening quarter of 26 1/5. Rock My Memory had things his way though a half of 55 seconds before Dancing Dreamer took a peek from second around the final turn at three-quarters in 1:23 while Odds On Mr Mamba stalked from third.

Dancingdreamer took aim at Rock My Memory, powering alongside midway through the stretch as Wrenn tipped Odds On Mr Mamba three-deep. In a matter of strides, Odds On Mr Mamba exploded to the lead under mild Wrenn urging, rocketing home in 26 seconds with the ear plugs still in place as he crossed the wire six lengths clear. Dancing Dreamer held for second, with What Nooo Waaay (John De Long) rallying for third, nine lengths behind the winner.

After finishing fourth in his career debut, Odds On Mr Mamba has now won all three starts since then for trainer Melanie Wrenn. The Odds On Racing homebred gelded son of Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman has banked $44,280 on the season.

The mark matched the track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings established by Fulfullnmydestiny in September of 2021, with both geldings being joined by My Girl EJ when she matched that clocking in the 2023 Breeders Crown final for rookie pacing fillies.

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Not to be outdone, Royal Richie Doyle coasted home an easy winner in the second division to remain undefeated through four career starts. Royal Richie Doyle and driver Trace Tetrick got away third from the rail in the field of six while JK The Great (Marcus Miller) cut the quarter in 26 4/5. Royal Richie Doyle moved to the lead just beyond the quarter, and as he cleared, JK The Great went off-stride in second, creating interference with the remainder of the pack behind him and giving Royal Richie Doyle a six length head start at the half in 56 1/5. Cosette's Image (Aaron Stutzman) recovered from the interference and closed the gap to 2 1/2 lengths behind the 1-5 favorite through three-quarters in 1:24 3/5.

The lead grew once more in the stretch as Royal Richie Doyle responded to a few Tetrick taps of the whip before pacing six lengths clear on the wire in 1:52. Cosette's Image held gamely for second at 59-1, with Swiss Lights (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallying to be third.

The winning homebred son of JK Endofanera-Townes Party Girl is owned by John and Robert Esposito. Leading trainer Tyler George conditions the gelding who has banked $78,000 on the season.

In addition to the 2-year-old stakes action, Buzzsaw Russ returned to Hoosier six days removed from a third-place effort in the $100,000 Kane Invitational at Batavia in his last, going gate-to-wire as the even-money favorite in 1:49 4/5 to take the $22,000 Open Pace by three lengths over Gorgeous Big Guy (Trace Tetrick) and Alta Revelry N (LeWayne Miller) for trainer Missy Essig.

The week of racing will conclude at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a 14-race Saturday (Aug. 30) program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).

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