Frosh fillies battle at Indiana Downs

Indiana Sires Stakes action resumed Monday, September 21 at Indiana Downs with a trio of $25,000 preliminary legs for freshman filly pacers. Scruuppti put in a wire-to-wire effort to take the first division while Electric Presence prevailed in a blanket finish to win the second split. Hoponit and trainer Don Eash won the third contest, and each division winner clocked identical 1:56.4 miles.

 

Crystal Ball Stables’ Scruuppti, recently crowned ISS champion with an upset victory in the $125,000 first series final, kicked off the second series with an impressive front-end effort. Trace Tetrick was in the bike for trainer Doug Hinklin, steering the favorite through fractions of :29.2, :59 and 1:28. The Kilowatt filly crossed the wire a quarter length in front of Purrfect Lanie (Ross Leonard) as second-choice Townline Kenya and Peter Wrenn were third.

 

Sawgrass Farms’ Electric Presence held off three hard-charging fillies to win her $25,000 division by a head. Driven by Sam Widger, the Electric Yankee lass followed Dark Alley Sally through a :28.4 opening panel before moving to the top. Once on the lead, the Nelson Willis-trained freshman clicked off fractions of :57.3 and 1:28. In the stretch, a fierce battle ensued, as the leader was challenged by Dark Alley Sally, favorite Bluebird Regal and Fakeutu Bluegrass. Widger and Electric Presence would hold on, outlasting Dark Alley Sally, placed fourth by judges after finishing second. Bluebird Regal was elevated to the show spot, followed by Fakeutu Bluegrass.

 

Kingsbridge filly Hoponit and Eash used a :29.3 final panel to propel to a three-quarter length victory Monday night in the final split. Fourth at the head of the stretch, the freshman dashed past Lets Go B B and favorite Allnitr Bluegrass to take command. The Hit Lady, driven by Jason Dillander, raced second followed by the Karlee Roach-trained Kilo Dream in third.