Mayflower's Song wins ISS

Mayflower’s Song and driver Mike Peterson found room on the inside and sped to the winner’s circle in the mares division of the Indiana Sire Stakes Saturday night. The pair was able to hold off a strong finishing surge by Townline Lily and driver Pat Berry and won leg three by a neck, in 1:533.

“You never know if room will open up,” Peterson said. “We were fortunate that the inside opened up. It was close at the wire. She finished strong.”

Mayflower’s Song and Peterson battled Shezahotmark and driver Don Eash for the front as they entered the first turn, and the winning pair allowed Shezahotmark and Eash to take the lead and thus took the pocket seat. Shezahotmark posted the first quarter-mile fraction, a lively :26.1.


Shezahotmark and Eash continued to hold the front position at the half-mile pole, where the Don Eash-trained entry held the top-two positions, which made an Eash Racing Stable sweep a real possibility.

“The fractions were good,” Peterson said. “We found a good spot, with good cover. This is just a nice mare.”
Townline Lilly and Pat Berry kicked to the outside just before the last turn; the pair was looking for room on the outside in hopes of breaking up the stablemates, but Shezahotmark and Eash continued to set the pace when the field of eight pacers approached the seven-eighths pole.

Shezahotmark was looking to go gate-to-wire, but felt pressure from both sides: Mayflower’s Song and Townline Lilly were both coming up at the 15/16ths pole, but Mayflower’s Song had enough left to overtake the leader and collect her fourth victory of the year.

Mayflower’s Song is owned and trained by Don Eash of Greenfield, Ind. The 5-year-old daughter of Pilgrim’s Punch continued her successful 2006; in 12 starts she has finished in the top-three seven times and has earned over $45,000. In her career, she has earned in excess of $180,000.

Shezahotmark rounded out the top-three finishers on Saturday.

Driver Josh Sutton had six wins on the night.

(Hoosier Park release)

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