Hoosier Sire Stakes action

Ho Lotta Speed and driver Joe Essig Jr. used a last second maneuver to win the $12,000 second leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes Friday, May 5, at Hoosier Park. Kicking home with a final panel of :27.3, the 3 year old took a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2, besting her old one by one tick of a second.

“I just put her (Ho Lotta Speed) on cruise control tonight,” said Essig Jr. “I was expecting to be first over at the start of the race. She actually races better from off of the pace. You always want the best trip you can get, though.”

Starting off in the fifth position of the one-mile dash, Ho Lotta Speed did not try for the early lead. Going wide in the far turn, Ho Lotta Speed sped things up a little to get within a half-length of leader Dessies Girl and driver Mike Neafus. In the last sixteenth of a mile, Ho Lotta Speed found one more gear to power her way to the victory. Dessies Girl had to settle for second. Lady Dreamer and driver Mike Peterson finished third.

“I thought it was going to take at least a 1:54 or 1:55 mile to win tonight,” said Essig Jr. “This was a good field to draw in. We just wanted to play it by seeing how the race went.”

Ho Lotta Speed returned $10.40, $5.20, and $4.00 for the victory. The daughter of Hi Ho Silverheel’s has won three of five starts this season. She did not compete in her freshman year. The Indiana-sired filly is owned by Alton, Angela, Ryan, and Debra Miller of Shipshewana, Ind. Dave White trains Ho Lotta Speed. (Hoosier Park publicity department press release)

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