Favorites prevail in Indiana Sires Stakes action

Two Indiana Sires Stakes contests for freshman colt pacers were held Tuesday, October 6 at Indiana Downs, with favorites prevailing in both splits. Iron Claw and trainer Charlie Conrad won the first $25,000 division with a 1:58.1 performance. Viking Kilowatt and Trent Stohler claimed the other second round split in 1:57.3.

 

Starting from post three in the nine-horse field, Iron Claw and Conrad were unhurried in seventh early as Harvard’s Z Tam and Mark O’Mara took command from post four. The leader was challenged by K C Colt and Sam Widger off a :29.1 opening panel, with the field reaching the half if :58. Racing to the half, Conrad abandoned the pylons with his Speak colt, and by three quarters (1:28), had moved up to fourth on the outside behind K C Colt. At the top of the stretch the favorite had advanced to second and closed with a :30 last quarter to win by one and one-quarter lengths. Electric Oui and Ricky Macomber rallied late for second while Blue Creek Abner and Dan Shetler were third.

 

Out of Falcon Seelster mare Guarded Wings, Iron Claw was bred by Don and Roselea Conrad, who co-own the colt with Sarah Conrad.

 

Viking Kilowatt, trained and driven by Stohler, didn’t fire to the lead from post six in the second division, instead opting to come from off the pace to win. Eighth in the early going, the Kilowatt gelding joined the outer flow as the field raced to the half in :57.3. As Roll On Home and Widger set the tempo pacing to three quarters (1:27.4), Stohler had his charge placed third over in fifth. Once the field turned for home, Viking Kilowatt sped home the fastest of them all, pacing a :29.1 final panel to edge Roll On Home by three parts of a length. Marky Mike and Jeff Cullipher were third.

 

Viking Kilowatt was bred by Howard Peterson, who co-owns the gelding with Stohler. He is out of the Cambest mare Cam Bam Mam.