Hoosier Park: Lather Up tries to move up the rankings in Monument Circle

Dorsoduro Hanover may have sewn up his standing as the top 3-year-old male pacer in the eyes of the voters from the United States Harness Writers Association after his Breeders Crown victory, but Crown runner-up Lather Up will get another chance to change some minds in Friday’s $190,000 Monument Circle at Hoosier Park.

The Breeders Crown win increased Dorsoduro Hanover’s earnings lead in the division - $1,181,612 to $893,512 - over Lather Up, with the done-for-the-season Courtly Choice sitting between them at $910,603. With only a few dances left on the stakes calendar, Lather Up may need to sweep the card and perhaps do something impressive if he is to narrow the gap in earnings as well as in the rankings of those with a vote.

The tables are turned somewhat for Dorsoduro Hanover and Lather Up on Friday as the former moves from post one in the Crown to eight, while Lather Up slides in two spots from eight to six this week. Another advantage on the side of the Montrell Teague-driven Lather Up is a change in venue.

“It can only help,” said Teague of switching to Hoosier Park. “He got around the track at The Little Brown Jug better than he does at Pocono. It’s just weird, that’s the only track he just hasn’t gotten the hang of.”

Lather Up’s history at The Downs at Pocono coming into the Breeders Crown final included one win and two breaks. Despite finishing second in the final, he almost made another costly mistake on the final turn.

“I actually went three wide on the backside while we were on the straightaway and he acted like he was going to surge right through, but once he hit that turn he started bouncing up a little bit,” said Teague. “He’s not the best gaited horse and you’ve seen him make a break a few times. That’s the last thing I wanted him to do because I knew once I straightened him up again he would have another burst. So I just sent him through the turn as easy as possible and after he got through the turn, I popped the earplugs and he took off again.”

While Dorsoduro Hanover and Lather Up are the biggest names nationally in the field, Always A Prince is sure to have a say from post two. Trained by Tyler George, the son of Always A Virgin has won 18 of 21 starts in 2018 including seven straight. Another contender is Grand Teton. Despite just three wins from 18 starts, the Jimmy Takter trainee stepped up to win the Tattersalls and has hit the board 12 times.

Scheduled as race 11 on the Hoosier Friday program, the Monument Circle is one of four stakes. The richest is the $256,000 Carl Erskine for 3-year-old trotters featuring Met’s Hall. The other top races are the $137,000 Crossroads of America and the $113,000 USS Indianapolis.

Post time for the card is 6:30 p.m.

For complete entries, click here.