Hoosier Park hosts qualifiers under the lights

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a set of 17 qualifiers Wednesday night, March 17 that attracted 113 trotters and pacers. A dress rehearsal for the March 25 season opener, the Anderson oval carded six qualifying races for trotters and 11 for pacers. It was the third qualifying opportunity for local horsemen and first under the lights.

 

Beehomeontime led all trotters with a 1:57.2 effort Wednesday for trainer Jim Mulinix. The six-year-old Big Victory mare wired the field for driver Rick Farrington, winning by nearly 13 lengths. Joe Cat, an Indiana Sires Stakes finals winner for the Burke Stable in 2009, finished a distant second.

 

Jim Dailey and Deep Chip won their respective qualifier with a 1:59.2 clocking Wednesday evening. The son of Chip Chip Hooray finished a quarter-length in front of V-Key’s Starger, a winner last week at Hoosier Park for trainer Jeff Brewer.

 

Trainer Grant Wilfong had his charges ready one week ago in Hoosier Park’s first qualifier of the season, sending out four winners. Wednesday two of his pupils, Ready To Rumba and Sabriana Lane, repeated their efforts. Ready To Rumba set the tempo for all pacers, registering the fastest time of the evening with a 1:55.3 performance. The six-year-old Whitefish Falls mare was driven by Dan Shetler.

 

Sabriana Lane and Jason Dillander used a pocket trip to win their qualifier, hitting the wire a length and a half in front in a time of 1:57.3. The four-year-old Mark Johnathan mare was followed by the Charles Stewart-trained and driven Mr. Bigglesworth.

 

Veteran campaigner Cog Hill covered the circuit in 1:55.4 for trainer Ron Burke Wednesday evening. Driven by Ricky Macomber Jr., the 10-year-old Electric Yankee gelding paced a :26.3 last quarter on his way to a length and a quarter victory. Meanwhile, another Burke entry, 2009 Indiana Sires Stakes finals winner High Speed Life, raced second in her respective qualifier, pacing the mile in 1:56 with a :26.4 last quarter. The race was won by the Steve Gray-trained Hawk’s Copperstone, a four-year-old Allamerican Theory gelding. Andy Shetler sat behind the winner.