A number of stakes events took place on the undercard of Caesars Trotting Classic night on Friday at Harrah's Hoosier Park, including the 15th consecutive victory by On To Norway, which came in the $90,000 Phil Langley Memorial for 3-year-old male trotters.
Pilot John De Long hustled On To Norway to the front early, parked and pressing to the lead through a quarter of 27 1/5. Once clear, On To Norway released Variegated (Dexter Dunn) to the lead at the half in 55 2/5 before Operator brushed to the top entering the far turn and forced De Long's hand first-over on the far turn at three-quarters in 1:24. Rolling home in 27 1/5, On To Norway put away a stubborn Operator late to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:51 2/5 while Variegated held for third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act has won 15 of 16 this year and racked up $284,719 in 2025. Bennett Farms Inc of MI bred the winner and career earner of now more than $300,000 lifetime.
The 1:51 2/5 clocking was a stakes record and matched his own track record, which On To Norway shares with Amigo Volo for three-year-old trotting geldings.
Nezuko Kamado S Trots to Track Record in Kentuckiana
30-1 shot Nezuko Kamado S kicked off the Grand Circuit action with a dead-game track-record performance in the $259,800 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
Scott Zeron wheeled the eventual longshot winner to the lead after an opening quarter of 26 4/5 around her stablemate Creator (Dexter Dunn). After middle-half fractions of 55 3/5 and 1:24 4/5, Nezuko Kamado S was headed by Creator in the lane before battling back to win by a half-length in 1:52 4/5, while Emmas Mystery CCL (Andy McCarthy) rallied for third.
Trained by Marcus Melander, the winning daughter of Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos It has won three of six on the year. The Courant Inc. homebred has banked $217,735 on the season.
The 1:52 4/5 clocking lowered the previous track record of 1:53 1/5 established by R Melina in the same event in 2023.
Miss Fancy Nancy pockets Carl Becker Memorial victory
In the $75,000 Carl Becker Memorial for Indiana-sired 3-year-old pacing fillies, Miss Fancy Nancy was a pocket-rocket winner and polished off a hat trick on the evening for the leading driver/trainer combo of Trace Tetrick and Tyler George.
Miss Fancy Nancy secured the pocket behind the favored Tarshish (Marcus Miller) through a first quarter of 26 4/5. The tempo slowed in the middle-half with fractions of 56 seconds and 1:24 4/5 while Miss Fancy Nancy waited for clearance behind dueling leaders Tarshish and a first-over Angelatyourfeet (Jordan Ross). Once clear, Miss Fancy Nancy split rivals with a 26 2/5 last quarter to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Tarshish and a late-rallying Can'ttouchthese (John De Long) in 1:51 3/5.
Owned by Tonya Nichols, Joe Sbrocco, VIP Internet Stable and Jaf Racing, Miss Fancy Nancy has won seven of 12 on the year, good for $133,335 in seasonal earnings. The daughter of JK Endofanera-Singit Like Aretha was bred by Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder.
Odds On Mr Mamba rallies late to win Elevation
Two-year-old sensation Odds On Mr Mamba needed every bit of a 53 2/5 back-half to chase down Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and extend his win streak to five in 1:51 3/5 in the $93,750 Elevation for rookie male pacers.
Dexter Dunn floated the 1-5 favorite away in fourth while Melillo motored to the quarter in 26 3/5 before slamming on the brakes to the half in 57 2/5. The action picked up with Melillo rolling to three-quarters in 1:25 3/5 while Odds On Mr Mamba was forced three-deep around the final turn and uncorked a 25 2/5 last quarter to speed by Melillo late by a half-length in 1:51 3/5. JK The Great (Marcus Miller) finished third, 6-3/4 lengths back.
Melanie Wrenn trains the Odds On Racing homebred son of Odds On Equuleus-Honky Tonk Woman who has won five of six while banking $156,405.
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Dandy Ideal marches to eighth straight in Jenna's Beach Boy
New York Sire Stakes and Max Hempt champion Dandy Ideal continued his tear as he extended his win streak to eight on the front-end in the $112,500 Jenna's Beach Boy for sophomore pacing colts and geldings.
With Jason Bartlett into drive for trainer Hunter Oakes, Dandy Ideal got away third from the rail while Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn) paced to the quarter in 27 seconds. Bartlett wheeled the betting favorite to the top before the half of 55 3/5 and reached three-quarters in a well-rated 1:23 3/5. Rocketing home in 26 seconds, Dandy Ideal had just enough to fend off Twisted Destiny and Harrisburg Heist (Chris Page) both by a neck in a three-across thriller in 1:49 3/5.
Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston own the winning gelded son of American Ideal-OK Heavenly who has won eight of 13 on the season. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III and Dandy Farms Inc., Dandy Ideal has made $673,655 on the year and now over $800,000 lifetime.
Whoomp closes from the clouds in Kentuckiana Filly Pace
Two-year-old pacing filly Whoomp rallied from well-back in eighth at the top of the lane and survived a post-race inquiry to win the $201,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management pace.
Driver John De Long was unable to find a seat on the first turn in seventh while Imagine Heaven (Tyler Buter) took the field of ten to the quarter in 26 3/5. The previously-undefeated Somemore Blue (Marcus Miller) moved to the top at the half in 55 seconds before taking the field to three-quarters in 1:23 2/5 with Whoomp still eighth and briefly rough-gaited around the turn. Once straightened away, Whoomp, a daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap, blitzed home in 26 seconds, gobbling up ground and surging to a 1 1/2 length victory in 1:51 1/5 over Ron Burke trainees, Shacarri (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Tell It Like This (Trace Tetrick).
Roger Welch trains the William and Patrick De Long homebred, and they co-own with Jesse De Long. Whoomp has won six of 11 on the season and boasts a bankroll of $190,851.
Bravo Alpha alphas field in Madison County
Bravo Alpha brought the evening to a close, winning from the pocket in the $75,000 Madison County for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings with Hall of Famer Tim Tetrick in the bike for the first time.
Bravo Alpha got away second from post two while Sunday Swagger (Kyle Wilfong) grabbed early control through a first quarter of 27 seconds. Bravo Alpha continued to stalk intently behind the pace-setter through middle-half fractions of 56 2/5 and 1:25 3/5 before Tetrick angled off the cones turning for home. Bravo Alpha put away a stubborn Sunday Swagger, who would hold for third, before fending off a late try by Dan D Man Can (Atlee Bender) to win by a half-length in a career-best 1:55 1/5.
Doug Rideout trains the winning son of Fiftydallarbill-Life Dream Hanover who has won two of 12 on the season while hitting the board 10 times for owners Julie Rideout, Alan White, Dave Gamble and D&S Stable. Bred by Hoosier Standardbred Farm, Bravo Alpha has earned $79,759 in 2025.
The week of racing concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, Sept. 20 with a 13-race card slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
--edited press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--