Indiana Downs meet underway

Indiana Downs’ 82-day harness meet started with a bang Friday evening as Town Star, the longest shot on the board at nearly 70-1, won the opener in 1:56.3 for trainer and driver Jimmy Shelton. Trace Tetrick jumped out to an early lead in the driver standings with a triple over the 13-race card.

Winless in six starts this season, Town Star and Shelton claimed a half-length victory over Black Magic Gypsy. The four year old Towner’s Big Guy mare is bred and owned by William Roush. Town Star returned $141.60 in the winning effort.

Two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes for sophomore filly pacers were contested Friday evening. Roknrol Bluegrass claimed the first $12,000 division with a 1:55.1 clocking for driver Mark O’Mara. The Pilgrims Punch filly, trained by John Merkel, edged favorite Northern Lei Ann by a length and a half.

In the second split JD’s Lady Lynn held a narrow lead at the quarter mile marker and would continue to receive the first call throughout the mile to win in 1:55.4. Owned and trained by Glen Weaver, the Full Of Fun sophomore collected her fourth win of the season. She was driven to victory by Marlin Fry.

Tetrick, fresh off a fourth-place finish in the driver standings at Hoosier Park, enjoyed a fast start Friday evening. He earned his first win in the night’s fourth race, guiding Lace C Deal to victory for trainer Jeff Brewer. The time of 1:55.1 established a new seasonal mark for the nine year old mare. Tetrick returned to winner’s circle in the sixth race, steering Erv Miller’s Vaudeville Margie to her first seasonal score in 1:54.2. The Western Hanover sophomore is out of Incredible Finale mare Incredible Tillie. The driver capped his evening by sitting behind race 11 winner Lotta Spark. Without a win in eight starts this season, the five year old Electric Yankee mare stopped the clock in 1:55.

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