Favorites toppled in Indiana Sires Stakes finals

Indiana Downs played host to four Indiana Sires Stakes finals for freshman pacers and trotters Saturday night, October 18. In each of the $80,000 contests the favorite failed to reach the winner’s circle as a parade of upsets set the tone.

The first of the finals, carded as race three, produced a mild upset as Dr. Luel Overstreet’s Livnluvn Bluegrass scored a 2:00.3 triumph in the finale for two-year-old trotting fillies. Guided by Dan Shetler, the third choice finished three parts of a length in front of Lunar Toon, half of the favored Doug Rideout-trained entry. Mayfair Segredo and Mark O’Mara were third.

“At the head of the stretch I knew if I could just take it a little easy and not get to the front too quick we had a good chance,” said Shetler, who raced fourth early with the Keep It A Secret filly. “She has a tendency to loaf once she gets by a horse.”

Thrice a winner heading into the final, Livnluvn Bluegrass more than doubled her earnings with the win. Trained by John Merkel, the freshman has won $71,800 in eight career starts.

The upsets continued in the fifth race, the $80,000 finale for colt and gelding trotters. Bar One, sent off at 12-1 from the rail, held off late-closing ABCDE and Shetler to win in 2:00.1. Driven by Jason Dillander, the Above The Bar gelding kept a neck in front of the favorite as JL Track A Tack managed third.

“That was the best he’s been,” noted Dillander. “He was trotting about all he could trot. He needed the wire.”

Owned by Double EE Meadows and Running Wild Stables and trained by Jacob Graber, Bar One added his second career victory. The gelding has hit the board in five of 10 starts.

Dream Work filly Sapphire Martini kicked home late to win the ISS final for freshman filly pacers by a length in 1:55.3. Ed Hensley was in the bike for trainer Ernie Gaskin, overtaking Ag-N-Au Bluegrass with a :28 final panel. Favorite JNB N Me finished third.

The third win in nine career starts, Sapphire Martini increased her bankroll to $70,750. She is owned by Gaskin, Ted Engel, Stan Rosenblatt and the late Gordon Tabor.

The most dramatic upset of the evening came in the $80,000 final for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Suprizemeagain, the overwhelming 1-9 favorite, was turned away late in the mile by 11-1 Evening Job and Ricky Macomber in 1:53.3. Mystical Valentine and Joe Essig Jr. were a distant third.

The Shawn Nessa-trained Suprizemeagain established the fractions while Macomber and his Dream Work colt raced fourth. Racing into the final turn the duo brushed to the front and fell in behind the favorite. They didn’t sit in the hole long, pulling from the pylons and grinding out a three-quarter length victory.

“I didn’t want to come first up, but we were able to get back behind and get covered up,” Macomber added. “It worked out perfect.”

Purchased five starts back from the McIntosh stable by Sylvia Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and JJK Stables, Evening Job has won half of his 10 career starts. Trained by Mickey Burke, his career earnings now stand at $84,149.

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