Hoosier: Trotting fillies impress in opening round of Indiana Sire Stakes

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 1 as the evening’s 14-race card featured two $33,000 divisions for the 3-year-old trotting fillies. Using similar gate-to-wire tactics, divisional winners Hotel Whiskey and May Baby kept their individual winning streaks alive to deliver in impressive fashion in their respective divisions.

Hotel Whiskey, with driver John DeLong in the bike, wasted no time and went right to work as soon as the wings of the gate folded from post five. Reaching the front through the opening panel in 27 4/5, Hotel Whiskey was able to slow the tempo just a touch through middle fractions of 57 3/5 and 1:26 4/5 before outsprinting her rivals turning for home.

Stopping the timer in 1:54 3/5, Hotel Whiskey used a 27 3/5 closing kick to turn away the pocket-sitting Rjz First Lady and LeWayne Miller. Bluebird Ladyluck and Dan Shetler found late racing room to round out the trifecta. Sent off as the publics' third betting choice, Hotel Whiskey returned $7.80 to her backers at the betting windows.

Trained and bred by Cassidy Whitton, Hotel Whiskey established a new lifetime best with the win. After sweeping a late closing series at Harrah's Hoosier Park last week, the sophomore filly remains unbeaten at three in three seasonal starts. The daughter of Bluto-LW Jaynie Flyer pushed her lifetime earnings to $37,049 with the win.

In the second division, May Baby looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favorite as she captured her split of the stakes action to retain her perfect two-for-two sophomore record. With trainer James Yoder in the bike, May Baby utilized a gate to wire effort to finish four lengths in front of her competition and stop the timer in 1:52 4/5.

Leaving from post four in the field of nine, May Baby left alertly to grab command through the opening panel in 27 4/5. J-S Miss Carly and Alex Udell benefitted from a pocket trip while the rest of the field followed in straight alignment down the backside. May Baby clicked off fractions of 57 and 1:25 1/5 before she began to distance herself from the rest of the field.

Turning for home, May Baby was on top with a five length lead. Rock Swan and Trace Tetrick made a valiant stretch run but were forced to settle for second place honors. Deswanslittlelorie and Michael Oosting rallied late for third. As the heavy betting favorite, May Baby returned $2.60 at the betting windows.

With the win, May Baby pushed her lifetime bankroll to $258,240 and has now won eight of 12 of her lifetime outings. The daughter of Guccio-Free Wheeling is owned by Cheyenne Yoder and was bred by Oakwood Farms.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, July 2 with two divisions for the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The evening's 14-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 sequence in races 3-6 and a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in race 14. For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

-edited release (Emily Ratcliff for Hoosier Park)