Harrah's Hoosier Park: Rookie fillies rumble in rich Kentuckiana Stallion Management races

Two-year-old fillies went for big purses in the $230,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for pacers and the $215,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for trotters on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

The pacers were up first, and Beyond Ecstasy (Tim Tetrick) cleared Priceless (Brandon Bates) for the lead passing the 26 3/5 opening quarter. From there, Beyond Ecstasy would go on to a half in 55 3/5 and a three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, with Merga Hanover (Matt Kakaley) moving up first-over from fourth in the third quarter.

In the lane Merga Hanover forged her way by Beyond Ecstasy, but the passing lane became available for the pocket-sitting Priceless, and once she had clear sailing, Priceless exploded through and pulled clear, winning by two lengths in 1:51 1/5. JK Finendandy (Trace Tetrick) rode the rail in sixth and finished well in the stretch to get up for second, followed by Shouldabeenatd (Yannick Gingras). Merga Hanover and Beyond Ecstasy rounded out the top five.

"She just wants to win. She likes the work," said Bates, who also conditions Priceless, an Indiana-bred and sired daughter of Rockin Image-Btwnyurheartnmine for owners Kevin Miller and Bert Hochsprung. "She doesn't like to be fiddled with a whole lot, but when you turn to go to the gate, she's game face.

"I feel like last year maybe I got robbed of some opportunities by selling (Swandre The Giant), but Bert is adamant that she's not for sale, so we're going to race her through the rest of the year and go from there. She'll be back here for the last leg of the sire stakes and then the final. If all systems are go, we're still pointed towards the Breeders Crown."

Priceless, who was bred by Mark, Mervin, and Jacob Graber and sold for $31,000 at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, has five wins and a second from seven starts and has earned $230,662. The 2-1 second choice, she paid $6.80 to win.

The Kentuckiana Stallion Management tilt for trotters saw Sherry Lyns Lady (Tim Tetrick) get to the point at the 27 2/5 first quarter, but Sorella (Christian Lind) moved right back around her from the pocket to take control. Sorella backed down the half to just 57 2/5 and stayed on the engine to the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, with a first-over Rock Swan (Trace Tetrick) coming up to challenge from first-over.

Rock Swan was able to overhaul Sorella in the stretch, but just like in the other event, the pocket-sitting Sherry Lyns Lady dropped into the passing lane and got up in time, prevailing by a nose in 1:54 2/5. Crucial (Chris Page) followed from second-over and came in third, with Sorella fourth and Spoiled Princess (Brian Sears) back in fifth.

"I didn't know if I got him or not, but both horses raced really well," remarked Tim Tetrick. "Every race she's raced really well for me. She's been second four or five times, just missed getting a win. I'm glad that she got a big win here. She raced really good, finally got up there and got my nose in front."

Sherry Lyns Lady is a Father Patrick-Demoiselle Hanover filly trained by Jim Campbell for owner Coyote Wynd Farms. She now has a record of 2-5-1 from nine trips behind the gate, and she has put away $264,154. Bred by Steve Stewart and Timot Stable Inc., Sherry Lyns Lady was purchased for $220,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She was the 2-1 favorite and returned $6.40 to win.