ISS elims highlight Indiana Downs program

Indiana Downs hosted a stakes-packed card Friday evening, September 4 that helped shape several Indiana Sires Stakes finals, slated for Saturday, September 12. A total of 10 contests on the 14-race program had ISS implications, with favorites winning six of the events.

 

A group of 15 stallion and gelding trotters dropped in the box for next week’s ISS final, prompting a pair of $10,000 elimination races Friday evening. Heavy favorites Hoosier Cadillac and ABC Mercedes collected victories and stamped themselves as the top choices for the finale.

 

Hoosier Cadillac cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in the first elimination for driver Dan Shetler, trotting the mile in a time of 1:55.1. Owned by Mel Gilbert and trained by Sally Gilbert, the seven-year-old Ripken’s Victory gelding picked up his fifth seasonal victory. Brandon’s Secret (Sam Widger) trotted a length back in second and CC Love That Red crossed the wire third for Trace Tetrick. Midnightsuperstar and Super Discipline secured spots in the final with fourth and fifth-place finishes.

 

Larry Miller’s ABC Mercedes took command late in the mile and scored a 1:54.3 victory in the second elimination for driver Mark O’Mara. The ABC Garland gelding, trained by Joe Putnam, earned his eighth win in 14 seasonal starts, moving closer to $100,000 in earnings for the 2009 campaign. Blowlowsanta finished second, followed by JSC Merit Raise. JL Flying Arrows and Universal Star rounded out the list of trotters qualifying for next week’s final.

 

Two $10,000 eliminations were held for older pacing mares, and as with the older male trotters, favorites swept the two divisions. Shetler steered the Charles Stillings owned and trained Postmark to a 1:53.4 victory in the first split. The five-year-old Mark Johnathan mare sprinted home in :27.3 to overtake Marks-Mindy in the stretch and win by half a length. Martha’s Revenge paced third. A Golden Rose and Get Down Sally finished in a dead heat for fourth. It was the second win of the season for the mare, co-owned by Stillings and Dean Ehrgott.

 

Frank Baldachino’s Go On BB used a quarter-pole move to take command and never looked back, winning the second elimination by two and one-half lengths in 1:52.4. Trained by Ron Burke, the Dontgetinmyway five year old was driven to victory by Ricky Macomber. Friday’s score was the sixth of the season for Go On BB, a winner in 45 of her 80 career starts with earnings of $856,273. E J’s Copperstone and Ready To Rumba were second and third, followed by Roknrol Bluegrass and Glory G.

 

Four $25,000 divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes competition for freshman colt and gelding pacers were offered Friday evening, with the favorites faltering each time. Second-choice Viking Kilowatt collected the first division with a nearly four-length triumph in a lifetime best time of 1:55.3. The gelded son of Kilowatt was driven to victory by trainer Trent Stohler, who co-owns the freshman with Howard Peterson. Powerful Pete paced second and T T Tiger was third.

 

Dublo Six and Shetler, also sent off as second choice by bettors, wired the field in the second division Friday, winning by three parts of a length in 1:55.2. Topville Diamond raced second while Grand Revelation rounded out the trifecta. The Third Straight gelding is trained by Steve Livingston for the Big Hat Stable. The winning time established a new record for the two year old.

 

Iron Claw and Charlie Conrad, the 10-1 fourth selection, posted the biggest upset of the four divisions, winning the third $25,000 contest with a 1:56.2 performance. Blue Creek Abner raced a length and a quarter back in second while favorite Marky Mike crossed the wire third. The Speak freshman is owned by breeders Don and Roselea Conrad in partnership with Sarah Conrad. A nine-time winner this season, Iron Claw possesses $29,000 in seasonal earnings.

 

Roll On Home did just that in the final division for freshman colt pacers, pacing a :28.3 final panel to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.2 for Sam Widger. Gusto Gus finished second and favorite Harvard’s Z Tam paced third. The Dream Work gelding, bred and owned by Dojea Stable, earned his fourth career win for trainer Terry McCorkle.

 

Favorites prevailed in two $25,000 divisions for sophomore colt and gelding trotters Friday evening. Trainer Marlin Fry guided Mystere Speedster to a 2:00.2 effort in the first split. The ABC Garland gelding finished a length in front of DM Dakota Image. Second choice Joe Cat finished third.

 

Dennis Putman’s Who’s Unreal cruised to a two and one-quarter length victory in the second division, winning in 1:57.1. Driven by Jay Cross, the Prague gelding was followed by Get To Trottin’. CW Ted Lunar crossed the wire third. Who’s Unreal, winner of the $150,000 ISS final earlier this year at Hoosier Park, is trained by Putman.