Harrah's Hoosier Park: Sophomore fillies spotlighted in Indiana Sires Stakes

Indiana Sires Stakes returned to Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday (July 26), with the fifth leg for both the 3-year-old trotting and pacing fillies. A lone $95,500 division for the trotters was won by the streaking Hail Broadway, while Lets Go Endofaera and Lyin' Eyes delivered as favorites in the two $48,500 splits for pacers.

Hail Broadway was sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the field of nine trotting fillies, leaving from post two in search of her third consecutive victory. Driver Jordan Ross was aggressive off of the gate with Hail Broadway, engaging in an early speed duel with Black Gold (Driven by James Yoder) as the two tangled to the quarter in a blistering 26 2/5. Black Gold won the early battle, taking command of the spread-out field on the backstretch with Yoder keeping the pedal down to the half in 54 3/5. Hail Broadway began to reel the leader in on the final turn, moving within two lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:23 4/5.

Turning for home, Hail Broadway tipped from the pocket and quickly took charge from the leg-weary Black Gold. Trotting home in 28 1/5, Ross and Hail Broadway cruised to a 1 3/4 length victory in a lifetime-best 1:52 2/5. Danger (Kevin Lambright) rallied for second, with Skyway Paige (LeWayne Miller) finishing third.

Trained by Luis Quevedo, Hail Broadway is now a winner in four of eight in her 2024 campaign. The homebred daughter of Swan For All-Pray With Me has banked $145,845 lifetime for owner John Barnard.

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The Team De Long homebred Lets Go Endofaera didn't disappoint as she took the first ISS tilt for pacing fillies as the 1-5 favorite. Regular pilot John De Long landed the favorite in second in the field of six early while All JK (Trace Tetrick) steamrolled from the outside to a 26 1/5 first quarter. The field remained in straight alignment behind All JK to the half in 54 3/5 before she led to three-quarters in 1:23.

De Long pulled the right line at the top of the stretch, quickly moving Lets Go Endofaera alongside All JK. All JK proved stubborn before Lets Go Endofaera powered away late in the lane, winning by 2 1/4 lengths and stopping the timer in a career best 1:49 3/5. All JK held for place, with Flirtin Fanera (Ricky Macomber Jr.) rallying for third.

A winner in four of five in her 3-year-old campaign, Lets Go Endofaera is trained by Tabby De Long. The victory vaulted the career bankroll for the daughter of JK Endofaera-Lets Go Higher beyond $400,000, having now made $412,790 for owners John, William C. and Jesse De Long. The win was one of four on the night for John De Long, who led all drivers on the 13-race card.

Lyin' Eyes immediately followed suit with a score as the even-money favorite in the second clash for pacing fillies. Driver Joey Putnam got Lyin' Eyes away third in the field of six while Defining Moment (Devon Tharps) cut the opening quarter in 26 2/5. Jada Caroline (Marvin Luna) then popped the pocket and took command up the backstretch to take the field to the half in 55 4/5. Entering the final turn, Putnam gave Lyin' Eyes her cue, marching first-over from third to pull within three lengths of Jada Caroline at three-quarters in 1:24 1/5.

Lyin' Eyes kicked it in gear at the top of the stretch, surging to look the leader in the eyes midway down the lane. From there, Lyin' Eyes thundered home in 26 2/5 to scoot away by 1 1/4 lengths on the line in 1:51 1/5. Teelatini (Pete Wrenn) split rivals in the lane to finish second, with Jada Caroline finishing third.

The Joe Putnam-trained daughter of Odds On Equuleus-Miswave Hanover has now been a winner in half of her six starts this season, while also having yet to finish worse than second. Bred by Silver Linden Farms, Lyin' Eyes has now banked $247,515 for owners J P Racing, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm.

The week of racing concludes at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 27 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7:00 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Harrah's Hoosier Park will host the fifth annual Empire of Hope day. The Empire of Hope event is dedicated to raise funds for the after care of retired racehorses, with all proceeds directly benefitting the Standardbred Transition Alliance to assist efforts to relocate, rehabilitate and repurpose retired standardbred racehorses. Festivities for Empire of Hope are slated to begin at 2 p.m.

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