Hoosier Park: Glorious Virgin sets new track record in Sire Stakes final

Glorious Virgin, with Trace Tetrick at the lines, became Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s newest track record holder when she powered home a winner in the third round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday, August 22.

With a final time of 1:50 4/5, Glorious Virgin established the track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies and also added a national season’s record to her already impressive resume. The previous track record of 1:51 was set by Youaremycandygirl in an elimination of the Breeders Crown last fall. The 1:50 4/5 victory also equaled the fastest mile recorded by a 2-year-old this season, regardless of track size or sex.

Leaving from post five in a talented field of 10, Glorious Virgin was unhurried from the gate while stablemates Pansy’s Image and Pure Maid were hustled out early for position. Pure Maid and Ricky Macomber Jr. reached the first quarter in 26 2/5 but would quickly yield the lead to the heavy post time favorite, Glorious Virgin, just before the half.

Glorious Virgin clicked off fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:23 4/5 and looked strong on the front with a two-length lead. As the field rounded the final turn, John DeLong had Lady Capulet applying pressure first-over but Glorious Virgin wasn’t finished.

Utilizing a 27-second final panel, the Shane Bowermaster trainee kicked home and coasted on to the wire under a hand drive, finishing two lengths to the good. Fillies from the Bowermaster Stable completed the superfecta in the field as Pure Maid finished second, Lady Capulet was third and Fully A Virgin and Peter Wrenn rallied well for fourth-place honors. As the 1-5 favorite, Glorious Virgin returned $2.40 at the betting windows.

“I really think she could be one of the top three fillies I’ve ever sat behind,” Tetrick noted after the victory. “At this stage in the game, she’s better than any filly I’ve driven. She’s a true professional, getting handier with every start and just has unbelievable talent.”

With the win, Glorious Virgin made a clean sweep of the third round of the stakes action for freshmen fillies and extended her win streak to four in the process. The homebred daughter of Always A Virgin-Bound For Glory has now won five of six lifetime starts while pushing her lifetime bankroll to $114,000 for Bruce Trogdon’s Emerald Highlands Farm.

Three-year-old trotting fillies were also featured in stakes action on the evening’s 13-race card and it was Black Mamba As and Todd Warren who pulled the 16-1 upset in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final. Taking advantage of hot early fractions, Black Mamba As used a well-timed rally late in the lane to score in a new lifetime best of 1:53.

Black Mamba As recorded the third win of the season from 10 seasonal starts for trainer Anette Lorentzon and snapped a five-race win streak for the heavily favored Custom Cantab, who had to settle for second place honors. The homebred daughter of Lionhunter-Happy Year is owned by Acl Stuteri and has now amassed $138,900 in lifetime purse earnings.

Indiana Sires Stakes action continues at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 23 with the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The evening’s 14-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 in races 3-6.

-edited release (Emily Gaskin for Hoosier Park)