Harrah's Hoosier Park: Sophomore trotters scrap in Grand Circuit stakes
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Three-year-old trotters of both sexes were in action on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park in the Moni Maker for fillies and Phil Langley Memorial for colts and geldings.
12-1 shot Southwind Cherry (Trace Tetrick) pulled off the upset in the $152,000 Moni Maker, tallying in 1:53 3/5. She sat fourth through splits of 27 1/5, 56 and 1:25 1/5 set by Fashion Annie (Tim Tetrick) and Instagram Model (Andy McCarthy), tipped out in the lane, rallied by Instagram Model inside the final eighth, and pulled away to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths. Instagram Model wound up second, followed by Heart On Fire (Todd McCarthy).
"They just gave her a little bit of extra confidence and gave her the mindset that she can stay at it and want to push on through," Trace Tetrick said about the recent addition of trotting hobbles. "With the short field I was able to sit fourth and move at the top of the stretch. She wanted to get home. She loves a target."
Jeff Cullipher trains Southwind Cherry, a daughter of Muscle Hill bred by Southwind Farms, and also co-owns her with Pollack Racing LLC. She has a summary of 6-2-3 from 21 lifetime starts, has put away $122,275 and returned $27.00 to win.
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Helpfirstedition (John De Long) took the companion $100,000 Phil Langley Memorial in 1:51 3/5. Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) posted fractions of 26 1/5, 55 and 1:23 4/5, with De Long tipping Helpfirstedition out of third late on the last turn.
Ponda Jet accelerated in the lane and built up a gap on the field, but Helpfirstedition hit his best stride inside the final eighth and was able to chase down Ponda Jet nearing the wire to win by a half a length. Ponda Jet was a game second and Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras) closed well after riding the cones in fourth to complete the trifecta.
Unraced as a 2-year-old, the Missy Essig-trained Helpfirstedition has six wins, seven runner-up finishes and two thirds in 16 outings as a sophomore. The Helpisontheway gelding, bred by Martin Wickey and owned by Ervin Wickey, John Graber, Running Wild Stables and John Schmucker, has now earned $252,600 and returned $7.00 to win as the 5-2 favorite.