Harrah's Hoosier Park: Oosting doubles in Indiana Sires Stakes races

The Hoosier State's top 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings were on display at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, July 3 as three divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes, one with a purse of $23,500 and two worth $24,000 each, were featured on the evening’s 14-race card. It was a good night at the office for driver Mike Oosting, who doubled up in the stakes action.

Oosting steered the fastest divisional winner of the night as Island Of The Sea used a front-stepping effort to score his third straight victory, scoring tonight in 1:49 3/5. The clocking equaled his career-best clocking as the sophomore colt remained undefeated in three starts at Hoosier Park this season.

Island Of The Sea was eased off the gate through the opening panel in 26 4/5 and settled along the rail in fourth. As soon as the field straightened away down the backside, Oosting gave his horse the green light, and he quickly ranged up to take command. Island Of The Sea cruised through fractions of 55 3/5 for the half and 1:23 1/5 for three-quarters.

Using a 26 2/5 final panel, Island Of The Sea was able to hold off a late surge from the defending divisional champion, Odds On Osiris with Peter Wrenn. The Candyman Can and Sam Widger utilized a ground-saving trip to get up for third. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Island Of The Sea returned $3.20 to win.

Trained by Shane Bowermaster, Island Of The Sea recorded his third win from four seasonal starts. The gelded son of Always A Virgin-Trinity Island pushed his lifetime earnings to $48,000 for his owners Eric and Lisa Ell.

Oosting scored his second stakes win with trainer Tom Simmons's Frontier Rollo, who captured his first Indiana Sires Stakes victory with an impressive 1:50 2/5 score in the final division. Frontier Rollo utilized a pocket trip to record his fourth straight victory this season. With a 26 2/5 final quarter, Frontier Rollo came out on top after a very tight photo with Frankiepark and Ricky Macomber Jr.

Owned by David Arrenholz and Benita Simmons, Frontier Rollo has now won five of 13 lifetime starts. The 1:50 2/5 clocking also established a new lifetime best for the son of Time To Roll-Incredible Dodger.

Caribbean Escape turned in a gritty performance to deliver as the heavy favorite in the first split of the stakes action with driver John DeLong in the bike. Sent off at odds of 9-5, DeLong let Caribbean Escape settle off the gate along the rail in fifth. DeLong brushed Caribbean Escape to the front down the backside, reaching command just before the three-quarter clocking in 1:23 1/5. As the field began to close in on the leader, Caribbean Escape dug in gamely late in the lane to fend off all challenges and get the win by a length in 1:50.

Trained by K. Dean Glispie, Caribbean Escape recorded his first win of the season and second lifetime victory from eight starts. Owned in partnership by K. Dean Glispie, Barbara Schlagetter, and Gail Potter, the son of Bring On The Beach-Caribbean pushed his lifetime bankroll to $28,892.

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