Hoosier: Homicide Hunter hauls down Hannelore Hanover in Centaur Trotting Classic

Homicide Hunter followed Hannelore Hanover from second-over and then got by her in the lane to win the $240,000 Centaur Trotting Classic for free-for-allers in 1:51 2/5 on Friday night at Hoosier Park. That was the fastest mile trotted in the history of the track, breaking the previous mark of 1:52.

73-1 shot I Know My Chip (Sam Widger) took the field of ten to the opening quarter in 26 1/5, with JL Cruze (David Miller), Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras), and Homicide Hunter (Brett Miller) following in behind him. JL Cruze then popped out of the pocket in the backstretch, and he would gain the lead before the 54 3/5 half.

Gingras gave Hannelore Hanover her cue to move first-up out of third just past the half-mile marker, and she forged into the top spot on the outside at the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters, with Homicide Hunter poised right on Gingras's helmet.

Hannelore Hanover brought the field into the lane, but Homicide Hunter rallied to her outside, took the lead in the final eighth, and went on to defeat her by a length and three-quarters. Natural Herbie (Verlin Yoder) was up for third, followed by I Know My Chip and JL Cruze.

"This horse had a bad post in his last start in the Maple Leaf Trot, and I didn't get him out of the gate that good," stated Brett Miller. "We were all talking about the race tonight, and we said we've got to get this horse out of there tonight. We dropped in a good spot right behind Hannelore Hanover, and everything worked out great. This horse raced huge tonight."

Homicide Hunter is a 5-year-old Mr Cantab gelding trained by Chris Oakes for owner Crawford Farms Racing. Homicide Hunter is now a 30-time winner in his career to go with earnings of $1,068,145. He was a 6-1 offering and returned $14.20 to win.

Brett Miller would also win the $160,000 Moni Maker for 3-year-old filly trotters earlier on the card, guiding Sunshine Delight to a 1:53 1/5 victory, which tied the track record for the division.

Evelyn (Aaron Merriman), Ice Attraction (Andrew McCarthy) and Treviso (Charlie Norris) all took a turn on the lead through panels of 26 4/5, 57 1/5, and 1:25 1/5, but Sunshine Delight, who was positioned second-over in fourth at three-quarters, used a 27 1/5 final quarter to get up in the lane, defeating Future Secured (Gingras) by 2 3/4 lengths. Treviso held third.

"She's just as good as anything out there, but she's always big oods," said the winning driver. "Tonight she showed that she can beat some of these good fillies."

Staffan Lind trains Sunshine Delight, a daughter of Credit Winner, for owner James Wilhite Jr. Sunshine Delight posted her third career victory, and she has now banked $305,567. She was sent off at 7-1 and paid $16.00 to win.

"She's a strong filly," offered Lind. "She can leave very good, but she has bad posts all the time. Tonight she was in the middle of the pack, he found a good trip for her, and she responded good."