Harrah's Hoosier Park: Stakes victories for Soaring Now, Ervin Hanover

Colt and gelding pacers took to the Harrah's Hoosier Park oval on Friday night, with 3-year-olds going for $140,000 in the Jenna's Beach Boy and their freshman counterparts dueling for $110,000 in the Elevation.

Driver Joey Putnam had Soaring Now on the lead at the 26 second opening quarter in the Jenna's Beach Boy but would release a two-wide Early Action (Brian Sears) to the front beyond that marker. Putnam had no interest in the pocket, though, and re-moved his colt to command before the 54 3/5 half.

Mad Max Hanover (Tim Tetrick) put in a big first-over move and challenged Soaring Now on the final bend, but Soaring Now countered on the inside and left Mad Max Hanover on the rim, dispatching him before the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. From there, Soaring Now remained clear, bettering a game Mad Max Hanover by a length and a half in 1:49 2/5. Rip Wheeler (Brandon Bates) came in third.

A JK Endofanera colt bred in Indiana by Luckiana Farm, Soaring Now is trained by Aaron Stutzman for owner James Miller. Soaring Now now has a record of 8-3-1 from 17 career starts, he has banked $329,550, and he paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

In the Elevation, Ervin Hanover (Yannick Gingras) pressed on two-wide to the engine after the 26 3/5 opening quarter, but driver Trace Tetrick sent Coach Stefanos to the outside from the two-hole and hit the point heading to the 55 3/5 half.

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Coach Stefanos remained the boss to the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters and into the lane, but Gingras sent Ervin Hanover on a two-wide attack in the stretch, and he went by Coach Stefanos pretty readily before he drew off to score by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:50 4/5. Cant Stop Lou was second and Coach Stefanos held third.

Ron Burke trains Ervin Hanover, a Captaintreacherous colt bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva Stables, LLC., Jim Simpson, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Ervin Hanover has registered three victories and two runner-up finishes in seven trips behind the gate, he sent his earnings to $150,635, and he returned $20.60 to win as a 9-1 offering.