Favorites triumph in Indiana Sire Stakes competition

It was a night for favorites at Indiana Downs Saturday. Favored Matt’s Image and Evening Job each paced to victory in their respective $25,000 Indiana Sire Stakes divisions, the first preliminary leg for sophomore colts. The triumphs allowed both 3 year olds an opportunity to collect maximum points toward reserving spots in the $150,000 final next month.

 

In the first division, Matt’s Image and Peter Wrenn were able to work out a pocket trip that yielded the duo a two length victory in 1:53. Master Regan and Mark O’Mara surged late for second while Got ‘Er Done, the leader turning for home, faded to third. Jim Daily trains Matt’s Image for owners Jerry Zosel, Kathy Ratcliff and Kimberly Dailey.

 

A four-time winner entering Saturday’s races, the Mattnamaras Band gelding set a new lifetime mark with the victory. Matt’s Image has earned more than $74,000 this season and over $92,000 in his career.

 

The second split was claimed by Evening Job and Ricky Macomber in a time of 1:54.1. The Dream Work colt assumed control for Macomber after the :28.2 opening quarter and clicked off fractions of :57.3 and 1:27.1 before pacing home in :27 to win by a length and three quarters. Bernardi was second while Suprizemeagain and Trent Stohler finished third.

 

Trained by Ron Burke, Evening Job earned his fifth win of the season for the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and JJK Stables LLC. The victory pushed the colt’s career earnings over $150,000.

 

Max Shaw’s Royalton Star wired the field in the $22,000 Invitational Pace, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:51.1. Andy Shelter sat behind the Threefold five year old, a 10-time winner this season. Benns Superman and Wrenn followed in second and Allamerican Bomber completed the trifecta. Shaw bred the gelding, which he also trains. The winning time fell one-fifth of a second short of Royalton Star’s mark, set earlier this year at Hoosier Park.