Harrah's Hoosier Park: Tellmeitmatters, Sabonis sizzle in Indiana Sires Stakes

The glamour boys put on a speed display at Harrah's Hoosier Park as two $50,000 splits of Indiana Sires Stakes for the sophomore pacing colts and geldings highlighted the 14-race card. The second of eight rounds of stakes action for the group saw Tellmeitmatters and Sabonis earn the victories in their respective divisions.

Sent off as the 3-5 bettor's choice in the first flight, driver John De Long settled Tellmeitmatters into fourth off the wings of the gate while Packedwithluck (Trace Tetrick) sped to the quarter pole in 26 1/5 on the lead. Tetrick tapped the brakes to the half in 55 1/5, but De Long had seen enough and angled Tellmeitmatters out from fourth. The pace picked up on the final turn, with Packedwithluck bracing for the challenge at three-quarters in 1:23 while Tellmeitmatters powered to the leader's wheel first-up.

Turning for home, the gauntlet was thrown down between the leaders as Tellmeitmatters powered along side Packedwithluck. Thundering home in 25 4/5, Tellmeitmatters wore down a dead-game Packedwithluck to cross the wire first by a length in a career best clocking of 1:49. Martz Telly (Marvin Luna) held for the third spot, with Goodness Graycious (Mike Oosting) finishing fourth.

The homebred gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters is trained by Roger Welch for owners William C. and William P. De Long. A winner of two of three in 2024, Tellmeitmatters has now banked $242,550 lifetime following his sixth career victory in 13 outings.

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In the second section, Sabonis looked every bit the part of a 1-9 favorite as he scored from post six. With regular pilot Joey Putnam in the bike, Sabonis landed in the fourth position while So Into You (Atlee Bender) soared to the lead in the first turn to cut the first quarter in 26 seconds. Sabonis began his charge to the front on the backstretch, clearing to the lead just beyond the half in a blistering 54 seconds. Opening up by two lengths on the final turn, Sabonis steamrolled to the three-quarters in 1:22.

The lead expanded to 4 1/2 lengths for Sabonis at the top of the lane as he looked to give the field the slip in the stretch. Noblesville (De Long) shook loose and uncorked a late rally up the passing lane in pursuit of Sabonis, but behind the strength of a 26 2/5 final quarter, Sabonis held sway to hold the challenger at bay in a national season's record time for 3-year-old colt pacers of 1:48 2/5. Rolling Image (Trace Tetrick) rallied for third, So Into You held for fourth.

Trained by Aaron Stutzman, Sabonis has been a winner in seven of eight in 2024. The son of Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue was bred by Karl Dean Miller and has banked $102,950 lifetime for owner Pat Miller

Racing action continues on Saturday, June 15 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). Two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for the 3-year-old filly pacers top the evening's festivities.

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