Harrah's Hoosier Park: Strong Poison puts forth track record mile in Nadia Lobell

Strong Poison kicked off her 3-year-old season with a bang after an impressive score at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in the featured event of the evening, the $115,000 Nadia Lobell Stakes for pacing fillies, on Friday, June 30. With Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the bike, Strong Poison converted a second-over trip into a 1:48 victory and established a track record for her division, a stakes record and a new lifetime mark in the process. The previous track and stakes record of 1:48 2/5 was taken by Reflect With Me and Andrew McCarthy in 2020.

Leaving from post three, Strong Poison was eased off the gate to find a spot along the rail in fifth while Sweet Amira and Peter Wrenn were the first to get a call through the opening quarter in 26 seconds. Southwind Bella and Brandon Bates benefitted from a pocket trip while the heavy betting favorite McSeaside and Trace Tetrick were next in line third. The hot pace continued as Sweet Amira clicked off middle fractions of 53 2/5 and 1:21 1/5, and when the field turned for home McSeaside was on the attack from first-over with Strong Poison in tow.

Using a 26 3/5 closing kick, Strong Poison was able to wear down McSeaside and hold off a late surge from the pocket-sitting Southwind Bella to get the victory. McSeaside finished third. Sent off at odds of 5-1, Strong Poison returned $12.00 to her backers at the betting window.

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"Ronnie (Burke) has done a great job getting her ready," driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. noted after the victory. "I wasn't sure with it being her first start how strong she would be, but it was good to land second-over and she raced phenomenal.

"I had a game plan coming into the race, I knew I just wanted to move her late. It worked out with some hot fractions up front. I had to move her a littler earlier than I would have liked, but she was running over the horses in front of us and was ready to go. She's a super talented filly who knows her work."

Trained by Burke, Strong Poison notched the first win in her first start of 2023 after a 2-year-old campaign where she won five of 14 starts and banked $424,359 on the season. The daughter of Always B Miki-Fiyonce is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva, Knox Services, and Beasty. Strong Poison was bred by Steve Stewart and Charles and Julie Nash. With the victory, Strong Poison now sports a lifetime bankroll of $481,859.

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