Harrah's Hoosier Park: T C I triumphant in Carl Erskine Memorial

T C I and David Miller had to make a few extra moves but, in the stretch, proved dominance in capturing the $175,000 Carl Erskine Memorial at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday night. The sophomore son of Cantab Hall was drawing away from runner-up Gruesome Twosome at the wire of a 1:52 4/5 mile.

With just six horses in the field, T C I was sent off as the 1-5 favorite. The race looked like a walk in the park for the winner, but that was not the case, as Miller first felt early pressure from Paquet, with Jody Jamieson urging the Ontario invader to the front in a 27 3/5 opening quarter. Miller was quck to regain control of the race, but that lead would not last as driver Daryl Bontrager had Gruesome Twosome on the move, and he would reach the front at the 56 3/5 half.

"I expected Jody to come early, but I wasn’t expecting the that other horse," said Miller. "But he's a good horse and he got me where I needed to be."

Gruesome Twosome had the lead through three quarters in 1:25 2/5 as Jamieson moved Paquet out for a second attempt but was only able to get to the flank of the leader turning into the stretch and not much further. Miller waited for the passing lane to emerge in the early stretch, and once clear T C I showed the kind of talent he'd exhibited throughout much of a brilliant 2-year-old career in 2023.

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With Miller just lifting the lines, the Ron Burke-trained sophomore hit high gear with a 27 second final quarter to finish out the mile. Gruesome Twosome was clear for second with Paquet settling for third. As a 1-5 choice T C I returned $2.40 to win.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi, T C I was a winner for the 17th time in 25 career starts.

After the race it was announced that T C I would stand as a stallion in Ohio in 2025 at Midland Acres.