Hoosier Park: Bar Hopping narrowly defeats Dayson in Carl Erskine Trot

Bar Hopping and driver Tim Tetrick continued their winning ways, capturing the $220,000 Carl Erskine at Hoosier Park on Friday night in a 1:53 4/5 mile. It was the ninth win in 18 starts this season for the Jimmy Takter-trained sophomore trotting colt.

Bar Hopping, sent off as the 1-5 favorite off the strength of last Saturday's Breeders Crown triumph, left boldly from post two for instant command before yielding to Sutton prior to the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Second-choice Dayson, with Yannick Gingras, also left the gate well but needed three-eighths of a mile to clear the front from Sutton. Once in control, Dayson softened the tempo, cutting middle-half fractions of 56 2/5 and 1:26 2/5 with Bar Hopping moving to the outside before the three-quarters while under patient guidance.

Turning into the homestretch, Dayson held the advantage, and Tetrick didn't appear to mind very much when pocket-sitting Sutton pulled in his path, forcing Bar Hopping into the third lane. It was a thrilling stretch duel, with Dayson on the inside and Bar Hopping coming to him on the outside and getting the decision in the shadow of the wire.

Bar Hopping, owned by Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, is a son of Muscle Hill. He defeated Dayson, with Sutton settling for third ahead of Hoosier favorite Bridge To Jesse's, who was stepping up into mixed company in the Erskine.

"My colt, he almost ran in the first turn," said Tetrick following the race, suggesting why he was content to sit third. "This horse has been close all year. I'm happy to be along for the ride."