Indiana Sire Stakes action continued Thursday, July 31 at Harrah's Hoosier Park with a pair of splits for both the three-year-old pacing and trotting colts and geldings. On To Norway extended his current win streak to 11 on the meet to headline the trotting races, while Rock Shines Again remained perfect through eight starts on the year in the events for the pacers.
Leaving from post two in the $48,500 first split for trotters as the 1-9 favorite, On To Norway and driver John De Long floated away in third while Euguene The Genius (Trace Tetrick) took command of the quintet through a quarter of 26 4/5. Eugene The Genius was left alone through middle-half fractions of 56 seconds and 1:24 4/5 when On To Norway began to tip off the cones from third. Moving with a flurry, On To Norway quickly trotted by Euguene The Genius with a 26 4/5 final quarter before being geared down late with the plugs still in place on the wire in 1:52 1/5. Tarzan (Marcus Miller) rallied to be second, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner, while Eugene The Genius held for third.
Trained by Ron Burke, On To Norway hasn't tasted defeat since his 3-year-old debut, winning 11 of 12 on the year. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal, the gelded son of Muscle Massive-One Class Act has banked $174,125 on the year and just shy of $200,000 lifetime.
After finishing second to On To Norway in each of his last two, Operator got away from his big rival to cruise in the $49,000 second division at 1-5. Leaving from post two in a scratched-down field of five, Operator and Kyle Wilfong got away second while Starlitfranknstein (Trace Tetrick) got to the top through a quarter of 27 4/5. Operator moved to the top on the backstretch, reaching the half in 57 2/5 before trotting to three-quarters in 1:26 3/5. Starlitfranknstein took a peek from the pocket at the top of the stretch before Wilfong kicked out the plugs and Operator trotted home in 27 seconds to cross the line 1 1/2 lengths clear in 1:53 3/5. Startlitfranknstein held for second, with Ponda Rocky (Atlee Bender) finishing third.
Trained by Jay Hochstetler for owners Connie and Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz, Operator has won three of six on the year to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes. The gelded son of You Know You Do-Crazyasclassic has banked $83,750 on the year and over $170,000 lifetime.
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Rock Shines Again kicked off the pacing tests with a 1-9 romp to stay perfect through his eighth start of the season with Trace Tetrick in the $49,500 first division. Tetrick got away third with the favorite while Class Factor (John De Long) set sail to the lead through a quarter of 27 seconds. Tetrick hustled Rock Shines Again to the top by the quarter, leading the field of eight to the half in 55 1/5 before building a two length advantage at three-quarters in 1:23 4/5. Rock Shines Again shifted gears with ease in the lane, pacing home in 26 2/5 with Tetrick sitting chilly in the bike to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:50 1/5. Class Factor finished second, with Special Pete (LeWayne Miller) holding for third at 50-1.
Trained by Tyler George for owners Rick Redder and T G Stable, the winning gelded son of Rockin Image-Bikini Star has banked $97,750 on the year and went over six-figures lifetime.
The $50,000 second division for pacers saw far and away the most action, and a photo was needed to separate Joe Putnam trainees on the wire, with Deal The Odds getting the nod at 2-1. Joey Putnam landed Deal The Odds in the sixth position on the first turn while Avanti (John De Long) powered to the top from the outside post nine to lead at the quarter in 26 3/5. Avanti led to the half in 56 1/5 before pressure came from first-over Somemore Soaring (Trace Tetrick) at three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, with Putnam trainees Seeitsayit (LeWayne Miller) and Deal The Odds sitting second- and third-over, respectively. Seeitsayit ripped off cover and took the lead midway through the lane before Deal The Odds surged home in 26 2/5 to nail him by a head on the wire in 1:51 2/5. Book The Fight (Kyle Wilfong) split rivals late to be third.
Deal The Odds has won four of seven on the season, banking $113,650 on the year for owners J P Racing, Michael Lee and Crazy Parrot Farm. The son of Odds On Equuleus-Sono Bello is a seven-time winner for his career with $185,000 bankrolled lifetime.
Racing continues at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday, Aug. 1 with a 13-race card slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). The Friday nightcap features a $10,000 guarantee in the late Hoosier High Five done in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.
Friday also marks one week till Harrah's Hoosier Park's signature event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development on Friday, Aug. 8. The field of top-level open pacers will be drawn on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and Dan Patch Night will feature a host of Family Fun activities, a $10,000 Dan Patch Pick 'Em Promotion, guaranteed wagers and more.
For more information on the 2025 live racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--