Harrah's Hoosier: Rock Swan extends win streak in stakes action

Indiana Sires Stakes action returned to Harrah's Hoosier Racing & Casino on Wednesday, August 19 as they host the fourth round of the stakes action for the 3-year-old competitors. Indiana-sired sophomore trotting fillies were the featured attraction on the evening's 13-race card with two $31,500 divisions for the 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Rock Swan continued her winnings ways to capture the opening division and her fourth straight stakes victory with driver Trace Tetrick. Stopping the timer in 1:53 1/5, Rock Swan recorded her third straight Indiana Sires Stakes victory and established a new lifetime best in the process.

Tetrick wasted no time and sent Rock Swan to the front through the opening panel in 27 4/5. May Baby and driver James Yoder, who returned to their home track after an appearance in the Hambletonian Oaks at The Meadowlands, grabbed a pocket seat with Swan Bomb and Ricky Macomber Jr. next in line third. Rock Swan continued to call the shots through splits of 58 and 1:26 2/5 and the stage was set for a battle to the wire turning for home. May Baby tipped from the pocket and the top pair matched strides down the lane. Using a 26 4/5 closing kick, Rock Swan was able to hold off May Baby and get the win by a nose. Deswanslittlelorie and Michael Oosting rallied for third. As the 8-5 second choice, Rock Swan returned $5.40 to her backers at the betting windows.

Trained by Erv Miller, the daughter of Swan For All-Jolly Jessica has now won four of six seasonal outings and 13 of 17 lifetime. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing and Anthony Lombardi, Rock Swan pushed her lifetime bankroll to $471,672. The victory was also one of four wins on the evening's 13-race card for leading driver Trace Tetrick.

In the second division, Sam Widger and Pretzel Party utilized similar gate to wire tactics to score in 1:55 3/5. With the win, Pretzel Party recorded her first stakes victory and established a new lifetime best.

Widger sent Pretzel Party away from the gate just enough to protect their rail position and grab the lead through the opening panel in 27 1/5. The field remained in single file order down the backside while Pretzel Party rattled off fractions of 56 3/5 and 1:26 2/5. Turning for home, Ricky Macomber Jr. had Skyway Tinacious out and applying pressure from first-over but Pretzel Party wasn’t finished.

Using a 29 1/5 final quarter, Pretzel Party kept her challengers at bay to get the win by two and a quarter lengths. Skyway Tinacious was forced to settle for second while La Nancio and Jared Finn trotted evenly to finish third. Sent off at odds of 2-1, Pretzel Party returned $6.20 at the betting windows.

Trained by Jeff Edwards, the daughter of Mr Cantab-Pretzel Hanover recorded her first win of the season from eight tries. Pretzel Party is owned in partnership by Denise Dennis and John Johannsen and pushed her lifetime bankroll to $121,605 with the win.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 20 with two $31,500 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Thursday's 14-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 in Races 3-6 and a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in Race 14.

-edited release (Hoosier)