Two of Indiana's finest, Gruesome Twosome and Lets Go Endofaera, staged late rallies to get their noses on the wire first on a stakes-filled card Friday (Nov. 15) at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Seven splits of the Star Destroyer headlined the 14-race card for the four sophomore groups, headlined by the $57,000 lone division for trotting males.
Gruesome Twosome left from post five in the field of nine as the 1-20 favorite, with driver Daryl Bontrager settling the bettors' choice into fourth early while Dashing Danny (Kyle Wilfong) worked around 70-1 shot Flirtnwiththepilot (Marvin Luna) through a first quarter of 28 seconds. Bontrager thought better of a backside brush, opting to stay in fourth as Dashing Danny got to the half in 57 1/5. The tempo quickened on the final turn, allowing Dashing Danny to scamper away by two lengths at three-quarters in 1:25 3/5 as Gruesome Twosome followed the cover of Victor Laszlo (John De Long) from second-over in fourth.
Victor Lazlo jumped it off at the top of the lane, as Gruesome Twosome found himself with a 5 1/2 length deficit to a dueling Dashing Danny and Flirtnwiththepilot midway through the stretch. Flirtnwiththepilot appeared poised to pull a massive shocker before Gruesome Twosome found his best stride late, rocketing home in 27 2/5 to chase down the longshot and reach the wire first by a quarter-length in 1:54. Dashing Danny held for the show spot.
Bontrager trains and co-owns Gruesome Twosome along with Ira Steinberg. A winner in 10 of 15 this season, the son of You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go has surpassed $400,000 in seasonal earnings, with a career bankroll of $642,603.
Lets Go Endofaera needed similar late race heroics to secure victory in the $30,000 second division for pacing fillies. John De Long landed the 4-5 favorite in fourth early while Asweetbeachhere (Andy Miller) battled Daisy's Star (LeWayne Miller) to the quarter in 27 2/5. After the dust settled, Brandon Bates wheeled Seaside Diva to assume command from Daisy's Star at the half in 55 3/5. Seaside Diva looked to give the field the slip on the final turn, opening up by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 while Lets Go Endofaera stalked from second-over in fifth.
Seaside Diva looked to be home free in the lane before she began to tire in deep stretch while Lets Go Endofaera gained. Surging late with a 26 3/5 last quarter, Lets Go Endofaera snagged the victory by a neck from Seaside Diva in 1:51 4/5, while Daisy's Star finished third at 38-1.
A winner in 11 of 14 this season, Lets Go Endofaera is trained by Tabby De Long. The Jesse De Long homebred daughter of JK Endofanera-Let's Go Higher is co-owned by John and William De Long along with newly-minted Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Famer Brian Elmore. The victory brough Lets Go Endofaera's seasonal earnings to $394,140 and to just shy of $700,000 for her career.
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The $30,000 first division for pacing fillies was won by Donegal Spirit at 7-1. Driver Andy Miller gave the Andrew Harris trainee the pocket ride before fending off Zuma Beach (Kyle Wilfong) in the lane by a nose in 1:51 1/5. The fourth victory in 18 outings this season pushed the earnings of the daughter of Captaintreacherous to $113,309 in 2024 for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman and A Harris Racing.
The $30,300 first division for trotting fillies saw Woman Of Passion overcome the outside post seven to score in 1:55 1/5 as the even-money choice. Driven by Pete Wrenn, Woman Of Passion took command on the backstretch before fending off the pocket-sitting Danger (Robert Taylor) by a quarter-length on the line. A 10-time winner in 15 starts this season, the Carter Pinske-trained daughter of Walner has earned $290,148 in 2024 for owner Al Libfeld, who bred Woman Of Passion with Marvin Katz.
Ohio Sires Stakes champion Sugar Instead utilized similar tactics to score in the $30,000 second division for trotting fillies. Kyle Wilfong got the call for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and moved the 3-5 favorite to the lead on the backstretch before she held Stella Volo (Pete Wrenn) at bay by a length to score in 1:54 4/5. The dominant daughter of Volstead secured the 20th victory of her career, having won 13 of 15 this season for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Sugar Instead sports a gaudy bankroll of $513,339 this season while knocking on the door of $900,000 for her career.
Tellmeitmatters notched his first victory since Aug. 1, winning as the 2-5 favorite in the first of two $36,500 divisions for pacing colts and geldings. Going to work with his usual first-over grind, Tellmeitmatters and John De Long worked to the lead turning for home before digging in to fend off Noblesville (Brandon Bates) by a half-length in 1:50 2/5. Roger Welch trains the William and Patrick De Long homebred son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters who has won seven of 13 this year, banking $246,315 over his sophomore campaign.
Stat That concluded the stakes with the biggest price of the night, pulling an 18-1 shocker in a mad scramble to the wire in the other split for the colt and gelding pacers. After sitting third throughout, driver LeWayne Miller split rivals in the lane with a 26 3/5 last quarter to reach the line a neck clear of a hard-charging Dale Yeah (Marvin Luna) in 1:51. Trained by Susan Miller for Derek Lehman, the victory was the second consecutive and third of the season for the son of Check Six-Rockin Songbird who has earned $108,910 in 2024.
The week of live racing concludes at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a 12-race card on Saturday (Nov. 15), first post is 7:00 p.m.
--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--