Harrah's Hoosier Park: So Joyful swiftest in Indiana Sire Stakes

Leg four of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings mirrored that of leg three, with the same three winners scoring on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Harrah's Hoosier Park. So Joyful, Nectar Of The Gods and Swan Good Bi all held up their end of the bargains as heavy favorites to repeat in stakes action.

So Joyful was the first to score in the $46,500 first split, converting a pocket trip into an open length victory with John De Long in the bike for trainer Ernie Gaskin.

Away from the rail as the 4-5 favorite, So Joyful was covered up by Tipsy In Vegas (Jordan Ross), who crossed over and cut the opening quarter in 27 3/5. The field raced in straight alignment in the middle stages, with Tipsy In Vegas leading through middle-half fractions of 57 seconds and 1:26 4/5. Once in the stretch, So Joyful tipped from second and made quick work of the pace-setter, cruising home with a 27 2/5 final quarter to open up by 2 3/4 lengths on the wire in a career-best 1:54 3/5. Tipsy In Vegas held second, with Mendoza Mafia (Atlee Bender) finishing third.

So Joyful has won three of six this season, banking $83,578 for owners All-Wright Racing, Brian Code, and James Nellinger. The son of Rebuff-Skateaway was bred by Luckiana Farm and Aaron Stutzman.

In the $46,500 second division, Nectar Of The Gods overcame the outside post seven to score as the 3-5 favorite with trainer Mike Micallef in the sulky.

Making quick work of his outside starting spot, Nectar Of The Gods crossed over to the cones in control of the field prior to the first turn before cutting the opening quarter in 27 1/5. The tempo slowed on the backstretch, with Beaver (Kiwon Waldron) brushing from fifth to take the top spot at the halfway point in 57 4/5. Nectar Of The Gods moved back to the point around the final turn, opening up on the field at three-quarters in 1:28 1/5. Sprinting for home in 27 3/5, Nectar Of The Gods cruised by three lengths to win in a career-best 1:55 4/5. Priceless Help (Marcus Miller) snagged the second spot late from Beaver.

Nectar Of The Gods has won four of six this season for owners Bet The House LLC. The Temporal Hanover-Goddess colt was bred by Steve Jones and sports a bankroll of $99,500, having been no worse than second in his young career.

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The $47,000 third and final division went to Swan Good Bi, who remained perfect on the season with Jordan Ross piloting the Henry Graber Jr. trainee.

Swan Good Bi settled into third on the first turn while Fifty And Famous (Kyle Wilfong) trotted around Temporal Power (John De Long) to lead at the quarter in 27 4/5. Swan Good Bi moved to the lead on the backstretch, trotting to the half into a strengthening headwind in 58 4/5. Ponda Cheetah (Marcus Miller) moved first-over and into third around the final turn, while Swan Good Bi moved to three-quarters in 1:29. Transitioning into the stretch, Swan Good Bi and Fifty And Famous separated from the remainder of the field, with Swan Good Bi holding that foe at bay by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:55 3/5. Let B Express (Kevin Lambright) got up for the show spot at 29-1.

Now five-for-five to begin his career, Swan Good Bi is owned by Indiana Stables, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal and James Zito. Ernie Lambright bred the Swan For All-Bange Bi gelding who has earned $83,250 lifetime.

Racing will continue at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Tuesday, August 25 with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). The Tuesday card will offer $10,000 guarantees in both the late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and late High 5 (race 14) in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program. There is also a carryover into the early High 5 (Race 7) on Tuesday of $8,932.

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