Hoosier Park: Wisdom Tree keeps win streak going in Nadia Lobell

Coming off two straight wins in the New York Sire Stakes, Wisdom Tree shipped west to take on open company in the $142,000 Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night at Hoosier Park, but the result was the same as she turned in a track record of 1:49 4/5 in winning.

Driven by Sam Widger, Wisdom Tree pocketed up to the 25 3/5 opening quarter that was put on the board by Strong Opinion (Ricky Macomber Jr.), but Widger was aggressive and moved into the lead. Wisdom Tree would blaze through a quick 53 3/5 half and a 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, but she opened up a gap on her rivals in upper stretch and held safe to the wire, winning by a length and a half over Double A Mint (Mike Oosting). Reign On Me (Lewayne Miller) came in third.

"It was a little faster than what I wanted, but in that kind of race you've kind of got to expect it," remarked Widger. "I know what kind of filly she is, a really nice filly. She knows her work, and she just goes out there and does it. I don't want to sound too overconfident, but I thought we were the best going in, so you've just got to drive them accordingly."

Trainer Jeff Cullipher also co-owns Wisdom Tree, a daughter of Betterthancheddar, with partner Tom Pollack. Wisdom Tree scored her 10th career victory, and she has now earned $241,660. She was the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.40 to win.

"There were some good horses in there, but I know she's been racing well," said Pollack, who added that Wisdom Tree will be heading back east to race in the Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands. "Jeff had her ready to go and I felt pretty good about tonight."

The undercard featured two Indiana Sires Stakes finals for 3-year-old males on both gaits, with Katkin American (trot) and Rockinbeach (pace) scoring wins.

Katkin American (James Yoder), coming off a 1:52 3/5 track record win in his elimination, was impressive again in the $83,000 final, romping home in 1:53. He landed on the lead at the 57 second half, got away from his rivals around the turn and to the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, and continued to pour it on through the lane, reaching the finish line ten lengths to the good over Jail King (Jay Cross), a 118-1 shot. Mayfair Well (Widger) checked in third.

Unraced as a rookie, Katkin American is making up for lost time this year, having won three of his five starts and earning $66,000 for trainer Verlin Yoder and owner/breeder Brett Boyd Racing. The Guccio gelding was the 2-5 favorite and returned $2.80 to win.

In the $85,000 pace final, Rockinbeach (Macomber Jr.) sat a pocket trip behind GD Western Joe (Miller) through stations of 27 2/5, 55 4/5, and 1:23 3/5, would take the lead in the lane, and open up at will, winning by six lengths in 1:49 4/5, capped off with a 25 4/5 kicker. Jeopardy (John De Long) was in for second, with GD Western Joe third.

A Rockin Image gelding, Rockinbeach is trained by Jamie Macomber for owner/breeder Wilbur Eash. This was Rockinbeach's sixth career triumph, and he has now put away $173,940. He was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.00 to win.