Harrah's Hoosier Park: Rookie fillies duel in Kentuckiana Stallion Management

R Melina and Blue Pacific were successful in their Grand Circuit debuts on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park, taking the Kentuckiana Stallion Management tests for 2-year-old fillies.

First up were the trotters in their $260,000 clash, and Ponda Title (Kyle Wilfong) led pocket-sitter R Melina (Tim Tetrick) through panels of 27, 56 45 and 1:26. Tetrick angled R Melina to the outside in the lane, and although Ponda Title was game off the well-rated middle-half, she couldn't fend off R Melina, who surged by inside the last eighth and then drew clear to tally by a length and a quarter in 1:53 1/5. Ponda Title was the runner-up and Dozen (Scott Zeron) was third after a first-over effort.

"We trotted out of there good - 27 flat - and I got to follow the one I wanted to," Tetrick remarked. "It was a horse race all the way down the lane. (Ponda Title) raced really, really good, and I got by her, but it was a big mile."

A daughter of Chapter Seven, R Melina is trained by John Butenschoen for owners M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. Bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds, the $110,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase has five wins and a third-place finish from seven starts, has earned $223,488 and returned $10.20 to win as a 4-1 shot.

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Blue Pacific (David Miller) would then take the $200,000 tilt for the pacers in an eye-catching 1:50 2/5. Direction (Todd McCarthy) cut the opening quarter in 26 2/5 but yielded to a two-wide Lyons Legend (Tetrick) in the backstretch. Hot on Lyons Legend's heels was Blue Pacific, and Tetrick would release her beyond the half, which went on the board in 55 seconds flat. After Blue Pacific chopped out three-quarters in 1:23 2/5, Lyons Legend and Direction tried to mount bids against Blue Pacific in the lane, but it was futile pursuit as Blue Pacific marched home in 27 flat to win by three lengths. Lyons Legend settled for second and Direction held third.

"Timmy was just taking his time to get there, and I figured I was going to be first-over then," Miller said following the race. "I took a chance and moved with him. She got to the lead, she felt pretty comfortable and she finished up real good. She qualified great and she got laid up. She picked right up where she felt left off, and she's just been a real good surprise."

Joe Holloway trains the victorious Sweet Lou filly for owner Val D'or Farms. The Fair Winds Farm-bred has a pair of wins and a third in three trips behind the gate, has put away $173,050 and returned $7.40 to win as a 5-2 offering.