Elevation Stake attracts 13 freshman pacing colts

A group of 13 two-year-old pacing colts will go to the post in two $65,000 divisions of The Elevation Saturday evening, September 26 at Indiana Downs. The freshman stakes are part of a 13-race card that will also include two series finales and the return of Art Official to the Hoosier State.

 

The first Elevation division, carded as race seven on the program, has drawn a field of six that includes the Erv Miller-trained entry of Pike Hanover and Mysoontobe. Western Ideal colt Pike Hanover is coming off a 1:54.2 at Lexington, his second of the season, and will start from post three for Brandon Simpson. Mysoontobe recently qualified in 1:54.2 at The Red Mile for Trace Tetrick. He will get the drive in the Elevation, lining up in post four with the son of Western Hanover out of Michelle’s Revenge.

 

Harvard’s Z Tam, fifth in the $125,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final at Indiana Downs his last time out, has drawn the rail for trainer Wilbur Eash and Z Tam Racing LLC. Sawgrass Farms’ Four Starz Trace, a two time winner with a 1:53.1 mark for trainer Joe Seekman, will start from post five.

 

Iam Bonasera, a Cole Muffler gelding from the Erv Miller Stable, headlines a field of seven in the second $65,000 division. A winner in four of his eight career starts, the freshman was runner-up to stablemate Power Of A Moment in the $240,000 Orange & Blue Stake. A winner in 1:51.1 this season, Iam Bonasera will line up sixth behind the gate with Simpson in the bike.

 

Joe Seekman will send out the one-two punch of Morgan Shark and Perrito Caliente in the night’s second division. Morgan Shark, fresh off a 1:55.1 qualifier, has won four of five starts for Sawgrass Farms. The Four Starzzz Shark gelding took his 1:52.3 mark in his last start, a Keystone Classic division at The Meadows, and will start fifth. Perrito Caliente will look to rebound from a 10th place finish in his Metro Pace elimination. The Art Major gelding won the Review at Springfield before finishing second to stablemate Morgan Shark in the Fox Stake in Indianapolis. He has drawn post two in his Elevation split.

 

Art Official makes his return to Indiana Downs in the $22,000 Invitational Handicap, drawing the outside post for Seekman. The Art Major four year old will look to make it two straight over the Shelbyville oval. Last season he cruised to an easy win in the $150,000 Monument Circle, stopping the clock in 1:49.4. Peter Wrenn, who currently leads the standings at Indiana Downs, is set to drive.

 

He will face a field that includes some of Indiana Downs’ best in the open class. All but two entries have paced in under 1:51 this season, and a duo of Indiana-sired pacers has broken the 1:50 barrier. Robin I Scoot (1:49.3), Freddyscooter (1:49.4) will be joined by fellow Indiana product Rocket Fuel (1:50.2). Royalton Star, an 11-time winner in 2009, and the Bruce Pacitti-trained Sports Fanatic are also contenders.

 

A full field of 10 pacers will battle it out in the $50,000 Mega Mini Series final, carded as race eight. Theory’s Hero, winner of the $20,000 leg one week ago, has drawn the outside for trainer Bruce Walls. Jason Dillander will drive the Allamerican Theory gelding. Mystical Valentine, runner-up to Theory’s Hero last week, will start from post two for trainer Erv Miller. The Dream Work gelding recently won the $150,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for sophomore pacers at Indiana Downs. Unrecognized Saint, a 1:51 winner in the other $20,000 leg last week for trainer Ron Otto, will start from post eight. Ricky Macomber will drive the Capital Request four year old.

 

Jetty and JL’s Man Of Action look to be the favorites in Saturday’s $24,800 Benjamin Harrison final at Indiana Downs. The sophomore pacers split both $8,500 preliminary legs; Jetty scoring the first leg in 1:51.2 for driver Rick Farrington and JL’s Man Of Action and Ricky Macomber winning the most recent in 1:53.4. Branko looks to be a factor as well. Guided by Dan Shetler, the Life Sign colt raced second in both legs. JL’s Man Of Action has drawn the rail for trainer Ron Burke, with Jetty to his right in post two. Branko will start from post six. (Indiana Downs)