Harrah's Hoosier Park: Rookie male trotters compete in Indiana Sires Stakes

Indiana Sires Stakes action continued at Harrah's Hoosier Park with round one of six for the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday, July 11. Three divisions highlighted the 14-race card and saw Twofiftychamp, Tarzan and Eugene The Genius all remain perfect in their young careers.

Twofiftychamp kicked off the stakes action in the $46,000 first test, having to overcome the far outside post eight in addition to seven foes. Driver Kurt Sugg sent Twofiftychamp immediately to the front off of the gate, sprinting two lengths clear at the quarter in 28 1/5 with Mehelpingyou (John De Long) in the pocket. Twofiftychamp received a breather to the half in 58 2/5 before the lead duo began to slip away from the pack on the final turn and to three-quarters in 1:27 3/5.

Turning for home, the top two trotted well clear of the remainder of the field with Twofiftychamp extending his length to 2 1/2 lengths over Mehelpingyou midway down the lane. Twofiftychamp trotted confidently to the wire, stopping the clock in 1:55, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Mehelpingyou. Jenius (Kyle Husted) finished third at 71-1, 8 1/2 lengths back of the leader. Twofiftychamp paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Trained by Edward Miller for owners Serenity Racing Stables, Twofiftychamp is now two-for-two in his young career. From the first crop of stallion Fiftydallarbill, Twofiftychamp is out of the Possess The Will mare Peachy Georgia and was bred by Daniel Lee Stoll.

Tarzan kicked off his career in style, emerging atop an action-packed mile in the $46,000 second grouping. Leaving from post three, driver Trace Tetrick settled Tarzan fourth early while Oli Canoli (Doug Rideout) worked to the lead outside of 3-5 favorite Fruit Snacker (Kyle Wilfong) at the quarter in 28 1/5. Oli Canoli cleared briefly before Kody Kickstand (Ricky Macomber Jr.) moved from third to take command at the halfway point in 58 2/5. Tetrick moved Tarzan to the outside on the backstretch, finding the short-lived cover of Fruit Snacker, who moved around Oli Canoli before moving back against the pylons in second. Kody Kickstand brought the field to three-quarters in 1:27 3/5 while Tarzan moved into second on the outside on the final turn.

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At the top of the stretch, Kody Kickstand faced a two-pronged attack, with Tarzan continuing to press to his outside and Fruit Snacker finding room against the pylons to make it a three-across battle for the lead. Tarzan gained a short advantage in deep stretch over Fruit Snacker, while now under siege from a hard-charging Siesta Sandman (Dennis Duford), who was rolling late on the wide side. Tarzan reached the wire first by a quarter of a length over Siesta Sandman in 1:56 2/5, while Fruit Snacker finished third just a half-length behind the winner. Tarzan returned $11 to win for his backers at the betting windows.

Trained by Erv Miller, Tarzan is owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc. and Anthony Lombardi. Bred by Keith Plank, Tarzan is a gelded son of You Know You Do and out of the Swan For All mare Foxy Swan.

The $46,500 final flight saw Eugene The Genius trot smartly to victory as he notched his second victory in as many career outings with driver Mike Oosting aboard. Euguene The Genius made quick work of post seven, trotting quickly to the lead and in command of the field of nine at the quarter in 28 3/5. 1-5 favorite Starlitfranknstein (Trace Tetrick) moved from the pocket spot to grab command from Eugene The Genius on the way to the half in 58 2/5. Starlitfranknstein trotted to three-quarters in 1:28 2/5 under a firm hold with Eugune The Genius hot on the Tetrick helmet.

The sprint began in the lane, with Eugene The Genius popping the pocket but spotting Starlitfanknstein 1 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole. Picking up steam at the edge of the toteboard, Eugene The Genius nailed Stalitfranknstein on the wire by a neck, using a 27 3/5 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:56 1/5. Sure Did (Jay Cross) rallied to finish third. Eugene The Genius paid $10 to win as the 4-1 second-choice.

Eugene The Genius is trained by Missy Essig for owners Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver. The victory was a lifetime-best clocking for the gelded son of Helpisontheway-Muscle Baby Doll, who was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables.

Racing continues on Friday, July 11 at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a 14-race card that has two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for the 2-year-old pacing males. Bettors will have a $7,500 guaranteed early Pick 5 (races 1-5) and $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High 5 (race 14) to look forward to. The Friday card gets underway with a first post of 6:15 p.m.

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