Harrah's Hoosier Park: Somemore Blue fends off rival Whoomp in Indiana Sire Stakes

Top sophomore pacing fillies Somemore Blue and Whoomp hooked up for the fourth time this season in the single $94,000 event in the fifth leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes, and left the night with the series evened at two apiece, as Somemore Blue turned the tables on her arch-rival after a thrilling stretch duel in 1:49 4/5 for the father and son team of Marcus and Erv Miller.

Away from post two as the even-money second choice, Miller was intent on grabbing control from the outset, firing off the wings and forcing Whoomp (John De Long) to take the pocket seat as the duo blitzed to the opening quarter in 25 3/5. After the dust settled from the early skirmish, Somemore Blue tapped the brakes on the backstretch as she took the field of six to the halfway point in 54 3/5. The top pair began to separate on the far turn, with Miller kicking out the plugs in preparation for the stretch battle and Whoomp beginning to edge from the pocket at three-quarters in 1:23 1/5.

Somemore Blue cut the corner sharply into the stretch, leaving Somemore Blue a length and a half to make up as the fillies sped to the eighth pole. Whoomp began to do her best work late, cutting into the deficit, but could not reach as Somemore Blue held her at bay by a neck on the wire in 1:49 4/5. It's My Story (Brandon Bates) rallied from last to be third, 4 1/4 lengths behind the top pair at 31-1.

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Somemore Blue has won four of six on the year, with her lone two defeats being runner-up efforts to Whoomp. For her career, the daughter of Rockin Image-Missomebeach Blue has won 11 of 16, banking $452,691 lifetime for owners Stepbystep Racing, Ken Duffy, Lava Java Stable and Never 2 Late Stable. Whoomp returned $4 to win.

It was one of five victories on the night for Marcus Miller, who won the first three races on the card aboard Six Sticks of Gum ($5.60, 1:49 3/5), Bundoran N ($5.80, 1:50 4/5) and Miss Alexis ($17.60, 1:51 4/5) before tacking on one more late with Sanday A ($7.80, 1:51 2/5).

The week of racing concludes at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Saturday (July 25) with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). The second leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies highlights the card, in addition to $7,500 guarantees in the late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and late High 5 (race 14) offered in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.

Saturday at Harrah's Hoosier Park also serves as the eighth annual Empire of Hope, an event dedicated to raising funds for the Standardbred Transition Alliance. Fundraising opportunities will be available throughout the property, in addition to family fun entertainment, food trucks, giveaways and a free Amish Country Dinner on the track apron for guests beginning at 5 p.m. and while supplies last.

For more information on the 2026 live racing season, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

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