Harrah's Hoosier Park: Sophomore surprises, formful freshmen in Indiana Sires Stakes

The final leg of Indiana Sires Stakes action continued at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Thursday evening's 14-race card. Two divisions for the 2-year-old trotting fillies, 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings made up the second half of the program as the Hoosier State's finest duked it out in their final chance to earn points before the quarter-million dollar Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals on Friday, October 14.

Upsets would prove to be the theme for the sophomore trotting colts and geldings on the evening, as the $49,500 first split kicked off the stakes action in the ninth race. Adamsville Road and Sam Widger scored the 6-1 surprise, capitalizing off a ground-saving trip in the three-hole throughout the mile, before unleashing a vicious 27 second final quarter to chase down the heavily-favored Ponda Adventure and Trace Tetrick. Adamsville Road snagged the victory right at the wire by a neck in 1:52 3/5, and Muscledover and John De Long would finish third. Adamsville Road returned $15.80 for his backers at the betting windows.

Trained by Harrah's Hoosier Park's two-time defending leading trainer, Tyler George, it was the sixth victory in 14 seasonal outings for the gelded son of Swan For All. Bred by Joyce McClelland, Adamsville Road has now banked $129,890 this season for owners Mel Rose Stable and Joe Nesselroad.

Widger would strike again with an upset in the $49,500 second grouping, this time with the 13-1 shot Nasey. Leaving from post five in the field of nine, Widger positioned Nasey perfectly in the pocket spot before converting the trip into a 1:54 victory by a half-length at the line over Iwon't Backdown As and Tony Hall. Nasey paid $29.40 at the mutuel windows with the victory.

It was the fifth win in 18 seasonal starts by the Walter Haynes Jr.-trained gelded son of Pilgrim's Chuckie. Bred by Roman Stoll, Nasey pushed his career bankroll to $95,435 for owners Black & White Stable, with $69,395 of that coming in 2022.

The freshmen would prove to be more formful in the Indiana Sires Stakes, with the Fox Stake winner Coach Stefanos scoring decisively in the $70,000 first clash for pacing colts and geldings. With leading driver Trace Tetrick aboard, Coach Stefanos waited patiently as David Allen Whoa and Joey Putnam cut out hot early fractions before moving first- over at the half and powering home with a 27 second final quarter to open up by three lengths at the wire in a lifetime-best 1:50. Buzzsaw Russ and John De Long would finish second, with David Allen Whoa holding for third.

It was the sixth win in ten career tries for the Erv Miller trainee, and he has banked $182,555 for owners Kenneth Duffy, John Stefanos and D&M Trading II LLC. Bred by Victory Hill Farm, Coach Stefanos is a gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched.

Widger would pick up a third stakes victory on the evening and fourth win on the card as Art It Is scored in the $70,000 second showdown for pacing colts and geldings in the nightcap. Leaving from post eight, Art It Is never saw the rail the entire mile, finding himself first-over at the top of the stretch before digging in gamely with a 27 2/5 final quarter to fend off a surging Hetolditlikeitwas and Peter Wrenn by a nose at the wire in 1:52.

The victory was the third consecutive for Art It Is and fifth in eight starts for the Mark P'Pool trainee. Bred by Legacy Acres, Art It Is pushed his career bankroll to $149,720 with the score for owners Dolne Farm Services LLC., Therese DeFabis and Mark P'Pool. Art It Is gave sire Tellitlikeitis the sweep of the freshman pacing colts and geldings, and is out of the Dream Work mare JNB N Me.

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Favorites prevailed as well in both tilts for trotting fillies, with Helpoftheseason getting the job done in the $68,000 first test at even-money. Peter Wrenn would have to navigate traffic from the second tier in post ten in the field of 11, doing so to perfection in the early stages before taking command up the backstretch and digging in gamely in the stretch to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:55 3/5. T's Pride and Trace Tetrick finished second, with Marys Magic and Jordan Ross rounding out the trifecta at 46-1.

The lightly-raced filly by Helpisontheway picked up her fourth career victory in six career starts, having yet to miss the board for trainer Melanie Wrenn. Owned by Wrenn Racing LLC. and John Schmucker, Helpoftheseason went into six figures for career earnings with $132,175 in the bank. Helpoftheseason was bred by Ben Wittmer Jr. and is out of the Angus Hall mare Torches Star.

In the $68,000 second rumble, Yo Beth D would return from a miscue north of the border in the Mohawk Million last time out with a dominant score. Leaving from the rail, driver Trevor Smith took full advantage of the post position, immediately taking control of the race and never looking back, scoring by over four lengths in 1:55 3/5. Longshots Myrll Valley, with Dale Hiteman at 68-1, and Youdocabo, with Matt Krueger at 39-1, would finish second and third, respectively.

Trained by Todd Luther, it was the sixth victory in nine starts in 2022 for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC. With the victory, the daughter of Helpisontheway, out of the Cantab Hall mare Scented Roses, has now earned $174,650 on the season. Yo Beth D was bred by John Schmucker.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues on Friday's 14-race card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with the last leg for both the 3-year-old pacing colts/geldings and fillies, as well as preps for the aged stars ahead of next week's Hoosier Champions night.

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