Hoosier Park track report

ANDERSON, Ind. - Down by the Sea and Victory Punch, who have finished one-two in their last two meetings, will be separated by an entire race Friday night. This is the final full week of racing this meet, which concludes Dec. 4.

Down by the Sea will start in the $35,000-added Indiana Stallion Stakes, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old Indiana-bred fillies who were sired by registered Indiana stallions. Victory Punch will stretch out to a mile for the first time in the following race, the $35,000-added Terre Haute Stakes for Indiana-bred fillies.

Down by the Sea, trained by Jose Davis, should be heavily favored over eight rivals to capture her third consecutive race in the Stallion Stakes. Regular rider Bill Troilo will be in to ride from post 8.

A daughter of Presidential Order, Down by the Sea was a close second in the $100,000 Bassinet Stakes at River Downs in late August. She returned to action here on Oct. 26, and won a race-long duel with Victory Punch by a nose. The pair faced each other again on Nov. 14, when Down by the Sea was once again best, this time by 1 1/4 lengths in the $74,250 Miss Indiana Stakes. She sports a lifetime mark of 3-1-1 and earnings of $83,390.

In the Terre Haute, Victory Punch faces nine rivals, with most of the fillies trying a mile for the first time.

Victory Punch will be coupled in the wagering with Dashing Express for trainer Robert Zahl. Both have Lester Knight named to ride.

Trainer Jeff Jones is also sending out a pair of runners, with recent maiden winners Hoosier Hotty and Cinnapie forming the entry.

Threats to Victory Punch should come from Belle of Indiana and Tee's Pearl, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the six-furlong Miss Indiana.

Belle of Indiana rallied from just off the pace of the Miss Indiana to be beaten a nose for second, while Tee's Pearl came from well back to finish fourth, a head behind Belle of Indiana.

The three appear hard to separate on paper. Tee's Pearl, a daughter of Lil E. Tee, and Belle of Indiana, a daughter Lac Ouimet, both appear well suited to the added distance of the Terre Haute.