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

Heart On Fire and Earthwindfire emerged triumphant from the Kentuckiana Stallion Management events for 2-year-old fillies on Friday night's program at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Driven by Dexter Dunn in the $240,000 tilt for the trotters, Heart On Fire led to a 28 2/5 opening quarter but was overtaken by a brushing Kayleigh S (Brian Sears) prior to the 57 3/5 half. Kayleigh S kept the top spot to three-quarters in 1:26 4/5 and into the lane, but after angling off the pylons, Heart On Fire kept cutting in to her margin through the drive, and Heart On Fire got up in time to score by a head in 1:55 2/5. Helpoftheseason (Peter Wrenn) rallied to finish third.

Tony Alagna trains Heart On Fire, a daughter of Father Patrick bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard Holdings USA, for owner Crawford Farms Racing. Heart On Fire has three wins and two seconds from six starts, pushed her earnings to $152,312, and paid $5.60 to win as the second choice.

In the $200,000 battle for the pacers, Earthwindfire (Tim Tetrick) wheeled off the inside racing to the 26 2/5 opening quarter and hit the front beyond that marker. Earthwindfire would then be challenged by Vivians Dream (Jordan Stratton), and Earthwindfire let that rival go passing the 54 3/5 half-mile marker. Vivians Dream blitzed through three-quarters in 1:23 2/5 and continued to show the way into the stretch, but Earthwindfire took the lead on the inside in the lane and then pulled away with every stride to the finish, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:51 3/5. Sleazy Mama (Trace Tetrick) was next, followed by Queen's Reign (Mike Oosting).

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Earthwindfire, an American Ideal filly who is a half-sister to Cattlewash and Niki Hill, was bred by Stephen Dey and is owned by Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Tulip Racing. She has compiled a record of 3-2-0 from six appearances, has now banked $228,075, and returned $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite.