Harrah's Hoosier Park: Owleo's Pride quickest in Wednesday's Indiana Sire Stakes

Indiana Sire Stakes action returned to Harrah's Hoosier Park on Wednesday (Aug. 26) with 2-year-old pacing fillies and 3-year-old trotting fillies stepping into the spotlight during the 14-race card. Fitterjake and Owleo's Pride delivered in the races for rookie pacing fillies, with For Dayze and Fresh Face Yankee each cruising as the heavy favorites in the sophomore filly trot splits.

Entering the night unblemished and off a track record-equaling performance in her last, Fitterjake and driver Anthony Miller kicked off the stakes action in the first of two $65,500 divisions for pacing fillies for trainer Aaron Stutzman.

Slotted into post two, Fitterjake settled in third behind Kountry Legacy (Trace Tetrick), while Ponda Era (Travis Seekman) shot out of the wings to the lead at the first quarter in 27 seconds. The field remained unchanged with Ponda Era hitting the halfway mark in 55 seconds, but the seven-horse field tightened as they approached the final turn. Kountry Legacy took the opportunity to strike at the leader out of the pocket before the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters as Fitterjake shadowed her and Fantastech (Marcus Miller) tracked them from first-over.

In the lane Kountry Legacy advanced past Ponda Era as Fitterjake loomed in pursuit of Kountry Legacy. Down the stretch, Fitterjake took aim, and she blasted past the leader through the wire, winning in 1:51 and by three-quarters of a length. Kountry Legacy cemented second, while Callie Rocks (Kevin Detweiler) and Jk's Fast (John De Long) finished in a dead-heat in third.

A Jk Endofanera-For Sharks Sake filly, Fitterjake is owned and was bred by James Miller. The win marked Fitterjake's fourth consecutive trip to the winner's circle to start her career. Fitterjake boosted her career earnings to $103,250.

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Setting the standard early, Owleo's Pride, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Ricky Macomber Jr., iced out the second field of rookie fillies for her first Sire Stakes score.

Out of the gate in post five, Owleo's Pride rode the conveyer belt behind Chancey Lucre (Atlee Bender) and Mystical Jk (Kyle Wilfong) early. Chancey Lucre snagged a contested lead at the first quarter in 27 seconds with Owleo's Pride racing to her outside before taking charge moving onto the backstretch. The field was spread out on the backstretch as Owleo's Pride soared through the middle fractions, hitting the half-mile mark in 54 1/5.

Alexis It Is (Anthony Miller) powered along the outside, trying to go first-over on the leader from third, but Owleo's Pride held firm at three-quarters in a blistering 1:21 4/5. Strong on the lead despite the hot pace, Owleo’s Pride found the wire just in time as a late charge by Mystical Jk just missed the leader, as Owleo's Pride drove through the finish in 1:49 4/5, prevailing by a neck. Mystical Jk fired into second, while Era Dominance (David Miller) claimed the show spot.

Owleo's Pride took a new lifetime mark in her second victory of the season, her lifetime earnings climbing to $80,800 in the process. The Jk Endofanera-Mcflirty filly is owned by Jamie Macomber along with breeder James Stonecipher.

Making up for the mid-card cancellation last Wednesday, 3-year-old trotting fillies were also in action for round six of Indiana Sire Stakes, with the heavy favorites delivering in their respective divisions.

For Dayze kicked it off in the $49,000 first division, scoring as the 1-9 favorite, leaving from post five in the field of seven. For Dayze floated away early, securing a spot in fourth while For Heaven's Sake (Brandon Bates) swept to the lead from the outside through a 28 second first quarter. Omg Am I Ok (Kyle Wilfong) brushed to the lead from third, taking command before the half in 56 3/5 when For Dayze left the cones. For Dayze drove into second on the rim, tracked every step by Magic's Delight, while Omg Am I Ok tripped the timer at three-quarters in 1:26. Turning for home, For Dayze quickly put away Omg Am I Ok before facing one final lunge by Magic's Delight, who came up three-parts of a length shy of the favorite in a 1:53 4/5 mile. Dial Nine One One (Marcus Miller) shook loose late between fillies to rally for third.

Roger Welch trains For Dayze, who has won three straight and five of seven on the season for owners William and Patrick De Long. Bred by Ernie Lambright, the daughter of Swan For All-Southwind Storm has banked $388,960 lifetime following her 11th career victory.

In the $48,500 second division, Fresh Face Yankee rebounded from her first defeat of the season in her last try with a dominant score from the outside post six.

With trainer Jay Cross in the sulky, Fresh Face Yankee found herself on the outside in fourth behind the dueling Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender) and Bluebird Kazoom (Jordan Ross) to the first quarter in 27 4/5. Bluebird Kazoom crossed over to the lead on the backstretch, with Fresh Face Yankee applying immediate pressure and taking over at the half in 56 seconds. Seeing the pylons for the first time entering the final turn, Fresh Face Yankee opened up a two length advantage at three-quarters in 1:24 4/5. With a motionless Cross in the bike, Fresh Face Yankee cruised by a measured 1 3/4 lengths to score in 1:53 over Bluebird Kazoom, while Make It Spicy (Trace Tetrick) rallied from last to be third.

A winner in six of seven this season, Fresh Face Yankee has earned $133,125 this season for owner Tim Smith. The $5,000 bargain buy at the 2024 Midwest Classic Yearling Sale was bred by Fashion Hill Farms, with the daughter of Crescent Fashion-Swan Yankee sporting a career bankroll of $174,335.

Live racing continues on Thursday, August 27 at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). Whoomp and Somemore Blue will reignite their rivalry in the $95,000 seventh leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies in Race 10, to go along with $10,000 guarantees in the late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and late High 5 (race 14) offered in partnership with the USTA's strategic wagering program.

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