Harrah's Hoosier Park: Southwind Chrome trots into record book

For the second time in one week, a track record was lowered over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval on Saturday, marking the seventh track record that has been re-established this season. After stopping the timer in 1:51 3/5, Southwind Chrome and driver Sam Widger lowered the track record for older trotting horses in the featured event of the evening, the $20,000 Open Trot.

Southwind Chrome equaled the previous track record of 1:52 earlier in the season, a mark that was previously established by Cue Hall last year. The 1:51 3/5 clocking was just a fifth of a second off of Southwind Chrome’s lifetime record.

Leaving from post five in the field of seven, Southwind Chrome settled along the rail in fourth while a host of others left aggressively for early position. JL Cruze and Ricky Macomber Jr. hustled to get the lead, but Two O B Wonkenobi and Dale Hiteman were a step quicker through the opening quarter in 26 2/5. Unable to find a spot along the rail, JL Cruze pressed on to the lead and reached the front just before the half in 54 3/5.

When the field hit the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, JL Cruze was still on top, but Southwind Chrome was on the attack first-over and had a full head of steam at the top of the long Hoosier Park stretch. Utilizing a 27 2/5 final quarter, Southwind Chrome trotted away from the field and finished nearly four lengths in front of Got The Groove and John DeLong. Resita and Mike Oosting also rallied well late for third. Sent off as the post-time favorite, Southwind Chrome returned $3.60 at the betting windows.

Trained by Jeff Cullipher, the 4-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Counter Pointe recorded his fifth win from 14 seasonal starts. Owned in partnership by Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher, Southwind Chrome pushed his lifetime bankroll to $129,985.