Restricted stakes run for first time

ANDERSON, Ind. - Sunday's open and fillies divisions of the $40,000 Hoosier Silver Cup Stakes are new additions to the Hoosier Park stakes schedule. The six-furlong races, which each drew seven entrants, are for 2-year-olds who are eligible via the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association stallion season auction.

Purses for the races are projected to be $75,000 each in 2005, according to the ITOBA.

In the fillies division, Stephies Cat, a first-time starter owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Ronny Werner, will face the entry of Join the Crusade and She's Our Gal from the barn of Ray Stifano. Kentucky-bred Stephie's Cat has a series of solid drills at Churchill Downs under her belt.

Join the Crusade is the only entrant with stakes experience, having finished second in the City of Anderson Stakes on Oct. 1 after winning her maiden in September. Tommy Pompell has the ride from post 5.

She's Our Gal won her maiden on Oct. 6 and will have Teppei Ikeda aboard from post 6 as part of an entry owned by Mari George's Circle S Ranch.

The open division is headed by Dakota North, an Iowa-bred son of Win Lose or Draw. Owned by Larry Hagemeier and trained by Fred Falldorf, Dakota North won his maiden on Sept. 17 at Prairie Meadows and has since been in training at the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan. Kelly Murray will ride Dakota North from post 7.

The Circle S Ranch will be shooting for a stakes double with Hebe's Express, who is expected to be well supported. Pompell will be aboard as Hebe's Express looks to improve upon his 1 1/2-length defeat in maiden company here Oct. 8.