Benns Superman wins, receives Dan Patch invite

It was a big night for trainer Henry Lunsford at Hoosier Park Saturday as his stable brought home the top prize in both the Invitational Trot as well as the Invitational Pace, amounting to $46,000 in purse money. Also, in the process, his pacer, Benns Superman, got an invitation to next week’s $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace as a result of his victory against the local contenders.

Benns Superman’s luck began at the draw, receiving post one in the field of nine competitive pacers due to an open draw in the top pace this week. With a victory under his belt from the previous week’s top event, he was poised and ready for another top performance.

All it took was a little early speed by Benns Superman and driver Dan Shetler to get good early positioning up front. Radar Installed N and Brad Hanners shot to the lead from the start, passing by the quarter-mile marker in :27.1. However, Shetler was not content to follow. Benns Superman was out and rolling to the top before the half in :56.1.

At that point in the mile, Benns Superman was in complete control of the race. Horses began to fan three wide down the backstretch with hopes of unseating him from the lead, but nothing ever transpired as he continued to march to the stretch, passing by the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:24.2.

The stretch was owned by Benns Superman as he coasted home to an easy victory in 1:51. He completed his task with a final panel in :26.3 to win by one and one-quarter lengths over Radar Installed N. Rocket Fuel and Jay Cross fought well off a first-over trip for third.

“He (Benns Superman) was perfect in every way tonight,” said Shetler. “I was surprised at the open draw this week, but we’ll take it. This horse does everything you ask of him. It’s always fun to drive in the big races, so I look forward to next week’s Dan Patch with him.”

Benns Superman now has two wins in three outings for 2008. The 4-year-old Real Desire product equaled his previous week’s best time of 1:51 and increased his career earnings to nearly $70,000. Paul Spadafore Jr. and Gary Baldwin of Stockbridge, Mich. owns the Canadian-bred horse.

Lunsford also picked up a victory in the Invitational Trot with Norvelous, driven by Hanners. Norvelous used a perfect third-over trip to take home the top prize in a time of 1:54.4, the fastest trotting mile at Hoosier Park in 2008. The Raffaello Ambrosio gelding was a length winner over fast closing Wigwam Baby and Shetler. Super Discipline and Ricky Macomber Jr. finished third.

“We were able to take advantage of a third-over trip tonight,” said Hanners of Norvelous. “I had never driven this horse before, but he drove well. In the stretch, I just waited for space and moved him out. He did the rest.”

Norvelous earned his first win of the season in only his second start of the year. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by Stein Sjolie and Joe Sbrocco. He increased his career earnings to more than $144,000 in the effort. (Hoosier)

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