Harrah's Hoosier Park: Owleo's Pride teams with Dunn for Indiana Sire Stakes victory

The final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies and 3-year-old trotting fillies was contested on the 14-race Wednesday (Sept. 30) card at Harrah's Hoosier Park, yielding formful results as the chalk delivered in each of their splits.

Owleo's Pride, driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Ricky Macomber Jr., took a business trip around the oval in taking down the $65,000 first split for pacing filles.

Starting from post one, Owleo's Pride rode the rail to the early lead, beating out the six-horse field to the first quarter in 28 2/5. The fillies taking the most play in the betting pool, Owleo's Pride, Kountry Legacy (Trace Tetrick) and Fitterjake (Anthony Miller) held the podium positions on the backstretch to the halfway mark in 55 4/5, and The field remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:22 4/5. Fitterjake tipped late on the final bend and battled her way into second in. However, Owleo's Pride cruised despite the bids from Fitterjake in second and Kountry Legacy in third, as she hit the wire in 1:50 1/5, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths.

Owned by Jamie Macomber, James Stonecipher and Ricky Macomber Jr., Owleo's Pride boosted her lifetime account to $228,780 following her fourth win in eight tries. The Jk Endofanera-Mcflirty filly was bred by Stonecipher.

Era Dominance, driven by Joey Putnam for trainer Michael Hitchcock, persevered to a third straight win in the $64,500 second split for pacing fillies.

Sandwiched in the middle of the five-horse field, Era Dominance left from post three as Jk's Fast (John De Long) hustled along the outside, leading the field to the first quarter in 27 2/5. Era Dominance leapfrogged the leader shortly after, gaining control of the pacing field. Era Dominance and Jk's Fast separated themselves from the rest of the group, racing to the halfway point in 56 4/5. As the rest of the field caught up, the focus was on the top pair as they remained tight through the three-quarters in 1:25 2/5. The slugfest continued down the stretch as Jk's Fast was able to get up to look Era Dominance in the eye. Era Dominance struck back, finding the extra gear to cross the wire first in 1:52, tallying by three-quarters of a length. Jk's Fast settled for second, while Callie Rocks in third, 6 3/4 lengths back of the top pair.

Adding her fifth career win in just seven tries, Era Dominance is owned by William Hartt and was bred by Let It Ride Stables Inc. and J L Benson Stables Inc. Totaling $223,585 in lifetime earnings, Era Dominance paid $2.20 to win.

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Fresh Face Yankee continued her reign of terror of her division, wiring the field in the first $49,500 split for trotting fillies with trainer Jay Cross in the sulky as the 3-5 favorite in the field of seven.

Leaving from post two, Cross was intent on gaining control from the outset, protecting her inside starting spot and forcing For Dayze (John De Long) to take a seat into second on the first turn with the favorite cutting the quarter in 27 3/5. Shown respect on the engine, Fresh Face Yankee went unchallenged through middle-half splits of 56 1/5 and 1:25 before setting the stage for the highly-anticipated showdown with For Dayze as the fillies straightened away for home. The battle never developed, though, with Fresh Face Yankee refusing to open the door for the chasing For Dayze, sprinting home well in-hand in 27 4/5 to cross the wire two lengths clear in 1:52 4/5. For Dayze held for second, with Dial Nine One One (Marcus Miller) picking up the show dough.

Tim Smith owns Fresh Face Yankee, who has only tasted defeat once in nine tries this season. Fashion Hill Farm bred the daughter of Crescent Fashion-Swan Yankee who has banked $182,375 this year and $223,585 lifetime after being just a $5,000 yearling buy for Smith in 2024.

In the $49,000 second divisions for trotting fillies, it went to the slight 4-5 second choice Bluebird Kazoom and driver Jordan Ross as they made quick work of a pocket trip to score in a new career-best clocking.

Away from post three, Bluebird Kazoom dropped into second on the first turn with the 3-5 favorite, Help Cum Laude (Atlee Bender), taking charge to the first quarter to the tune of 28 1/5. The fillies raced single-file in the middle stages, with Help Cum Laude bringing the field to the head of the lane after fractions of 56 3/5 and 1:25 1/5. Ross right-lined Bluebird Kazoom at the top of the stretch, exploding by Help Cum Laude before trotting away by 4 1/2 lengths on the wire to stop the timer in 1:53. Help Cum Laude was second, with Honeymoon (Trace Tetrick) getting up for third.

Trained by Henry Graber Jr., Bluebird Kazoom has won 11 of 14 during her 3-year-old rookie campaign. Delvin Miller, Kenneth Bontrager and Daryl Miller bred the daughter of Swan For All-Stella Kemp who has banked $195,350 for owners Hillside Stables, Indiana Stables, Hickory Hollow Stables and Michael Rosenthal.

Live racing continues for the week at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with a 14-race card on Thursday (Oct. 1) set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. Two-year-old pacing males and three-year-old trotting colts and geldings headline the card with their final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes in advance of Hoosier Champions Night on Friday, Oct. 9. There will also be $10,000 guarantees on both the late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and late High 5 (race 14) on Thursday offered in partnership with the USTA's Stategic Wagering Program.

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