Hoosier: Meadowbrook Grace dominates in Indiana Sire Stakes final

Indiana’s 2017 2-year-old trotting filly of the year, Meadowbrook Grace, pulled off a series sweep to retain her perfect two-for -two sophomore record after she captured the featured event of the evening, the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for 3-year-old trotting fillies, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, May 30.

Scoring in 1:53 3/5 with Trace Tetrick in the bike, Meadowbrook Grace recorded her second seasonal victory in the opening round of the stakes action and established a new lifetime best in the process.

Leaving from post five in a talented field of ten, Meadowbrook Grace was unhurried from the gate and settled along the rail in fifth while a host of others left alertly for position. Custom Cantab and Peter Wrenn followed the wings of the gate out from post eight to get the first call through the opening panel in 27 3/5. O So Easy and Verlin Yoder were also involved in the early mix from post nine and pressed on to the front to grab command just before the half in 56 4/5.

Custom Cantab was content to sit the pocket with Southerntucky and Dale Hiteman following along in third. O So Easy was still calling the shots through the third station in 1:26 but Meadowbrook Grace was on the attack first-over with Sarabi As and Elliot Deaton in tow.

Using a 27 2/5 final panel, Meadowbrook Grace was able to wear down O So Easy and hold off a late surge from Sarabi As. Custom Cantab utilized a ground-saving trip to round out the trifecta. As the heavy betting favorite, Meadowbrook Grace returned $4.00 for the victory.

“She’s come back really strong and sound this season,” Tetrick noted after the victory. “She’s very handy and is really easy to manage for a trotting filly. There was a pretty good head wind in the stretch tonight but good horses go right through it and that’s what she did tonight.”

Trained by Erv Miller, the daughter of Swan For All-Chip’s Goddess recorded her sixth victory from 12 lifetime outings. With the win, Meadowbrook Grace pushed her lifetime earnings to $223,450 for owners Anthony Lombardi and The Kales Company.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, May 31 with the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The evening’s 13-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 sequence in Races 3-6.

-edited release (Emily Gaskin for Hoosier Park)