ISS finals at Indy Downs

Six Indiana Sires Stakes finals were featured at Indiana Downs Saturday evening, Sept. 2. Sophomore trotter GG’s Joe not only won the $84,300 final for colts and geldings, he also picked up a $25,000 bonus for capturing all three legs of the Hoosier Home Run, Indiana’s equivalent of the Triple Crown.

GG’s Joe proved his staying power Saturday night with a 1:58.2 mile in the second Indiana Sires Stakes final for his division. Earlier this year at Hoosier Park the Super Ben Joe gelding won the series one final, the first leg of the Hoosier Home Run, for trainer Dan Perdue with ease. GG’s Joe would win the Maple City Trot in Goshen, Ind. to capture the second leg. Saturday he completed the sweep of ISS finals and become the first winner of the Hoosier Home Run, which was created this year.

“A horse like this makes a trainer look good,” Perdue said of GG’s Joe. “It’s him; he’s tough. He wants to win. He’s had a bad quarter crack since May and he was sick two weeks ago.”

The 6-5 favorite, GG’s Joe started from post eight for driver Dan Shetler. The reinsman looked for inside horses to leave.

“Everybody left and I ducked,” Shetler explained. “He’s turned into a very versatile horse during the summer. You can race him any way you want.”

The driver used this to his advantage, flushing cover and brushing home in the stretch to win. It was the 12th victory in 17 starts for the sophomore, owned by Black Creek Stable of Grabill, Ind. GG’s Joe has earned nearly $150,000 this season. Simple As ABC finished second and Hoosier Gazette was third.

No Fish Tales won her second straight contest after being sidelined due to injury, scoring a 1:54.1 victory in the $91,150 final for sophomore filly pacers. The Whitefish Falls filly was making only her sixth start of the season for trainer Sara Haynes after winning an ISS final and $76,760 as a freshman.

“She’s overcome so many obstacles, it’s incredible,” said driver Walter Haynes Jr.

The 3-2 favorite started from post three, trailing leader Velvet Eileen through fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25.1. In the stretch it appeared No Fish Tales might not find racing room, but Haynes made the most of a small window of opportunity.

“Willie’s horse (Velvet Eileen) was drifting and I was getting ready to go to the rail,” Haynes explained.

Instead, he found room on the outside. He shot from the pylons and kicked home for the victory, holding off closing L-N-A’s Dream at the wire. Get Down Sally finished third. No Fish Tales is owned by Kathleen Prickett and her father-in-law, Lowell Prickett.

Foxy Maneuver and trainer Don Eash teamed to win the $63,900 ISS final for older male pacers, besting 1-5 favorite Rebelman in 1:51.2. The seven-year-old gelding has now won more than $800,000 in his illustrious career.

“I wanted to keep him (Rebelman) out and tire him out, but I didn’t get off the gate as quick as he did. I wanted to stick as close as I could,” Eash said. “In the stretch I pulled and got up beside him and knew we had a shot.”

After following Rebelman throughout the mile, Eash made his move in the lane and came away with the victory. Premieronbroadway and Patrick Berry finished third.

LW Sweet Talker became a multiple ISS champion with her 1:57.3 victory in the $65,600 final for older trotting mares Saturday night. The Gulf Talk four year old, conditioned by owner Verlin Yoder, also won an ISS final as a freshman. Shelter guided the mare to victory over Secret Star and Hoosier Jewel.

“The track was awful dead tonight. She struggled the whole mile, but others struggled too,” Shelter said. “I handed her over down the lane and she did it all on her own.”

Touch Of Steel was victorious in the $90,125 final for sophomore colt and gelding pacers, winning in 1:53.2 for driver Mark O’Mara. The gelded son of Lease On Life improved his seasonal earnings to more than $131,000 for trainer Don Cromer. Townline Roll On was second and Model Rellim completed the trifecta.

Kay Express was crowned three year old trotting filly champion with a win in the $82,725 final Saturday. The Dakota Spur filly stopped the clock in 1:59.2 for trainer Steve Brannan. Bluebird Superstar was the runner up, while ABC Glory raced third.

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