Harrah's Hoosier Park: Tellmeitmatters, Sabonis remain top dogs in Indiana Sires Stakes

Round four of Indiana Sires Stakes for the sophomore pacing colts and geldings highlighted the 14-race card on Friday, July 5 at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. With active win streaks on the line entering the night, Tellmeitmatters and Sabonis each delivered as the bettor's choice in their respective divisions.

In search of his fourth consecutive victory on the season, Tellmeitmatters was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the $50,500 first tilt. Leaving from post four in the field of eight, driver John De Long settled in the third off of the wings of the gate as Devon Tharps put Noblesville on the engine to the first quarter in 27 2/5. De Long moved Tellmeitmatters from third up the backstretch to assume command before reaching the halfway point in 55 3/5. On the final turn, Tellmeitmatter brought the field to three-quarters in 1:24 with Noblesville in hot pursuit.

At the top of the stretch, Tellmeitmatters spun for home with a 1 1/2 length jump on the pocket-popping Noblesville. The two continued to trade blows in a deep-stretch duel, with Tellmeitmatters emerging atop the skirmish a quarter-length clear on the line in 1:50 2/5 over Noblesville. Shooting In Place and Jordan Ross rallied for the third spot.

A winner in four of five at three, the 2-year-old Super Final champion is trained by Roger Welch. The homebred gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters is owned by William C. and William P. De Long, and has now banked $292,550 for his career.

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Sabonis survived a tussle of his own to secure victory in the $50,000 second flight to extend his win streak on the season to five with regular pilot Joey Putnam aboard. Starting from the rail, Sabonis floated into the fourth spot in the early stages while Rolling Image (Trace Tetrick) worked around Premier Romeo (Kyle Wilfong) to reach the quarter first in 26 3/5. Rolling Imaged thundered up the backstretch to the half in 54 2/5 before Putnam angled the 1-5 favorite off of the pylons to begin his first-over journey. Sabonis moved into third on the outside, two lengths back of the leader Rolling Image at three-quarters in 1:22 4/5.

Sabonis surged to the lead at the top of the lane, though finding himself the widest of a three-horse battle at the top of the stretch with Wilfong threading the needle between the two leaders with Premier Romeo. Premier Romeo battled gamely in search of the 43-1 upset before Sabonis edged clear late in a 26 2/5 final quarter to cross the wire a length clear in 1:49 3/5. Rolling Image held for third to round out the trifecta.

Trained by Aaron Stutzman, Sabonis is now a winner in eight of nine seasonal outings for owner Pat Miller. Bred by Karl Dean Miller, the son of Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue now sports a career bankroll of $127,950.

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