Search Engine cruises

Search Engine had no worries as he won the $12,000 opening leg of the Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings Saturday, April 21. With driver Mark O’Mara back in the bike, the duo strolled to the gate-to-wire victory in a new career best in 1:53.4.

“The track was really good to us tonight,” said O’Mara. “The way he (Search Engine) just covered ground was the reason why he paced a fast mile. We finally received some nice weather to race in.”

Search Engine got things started from the seventh post position. Wasting no time, O’Mara took the Indiana-sired champ straight to the front of the field. With no competition in sight, Search Engine coasted through fractions of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:25.3, comfortably.

Coming off the top of the lane, Search Engine was well in hand. O’Mara had to ask nothing of the Electric Yankee colt. He did it all on his own, pulling away to the three and one-half length win. Pockets Rocket and driver Trace Tetrick finished second, courtesy of a two-hole trip. Hoosier Wildcat and driver Jay Cross rounded out the trifecta.

“I really had no expectations from him (Search Engine) before the race,” said O’Mara. “Dave (White) told me he was going to be strong. This was a good effort for him. He was a really big horse when he was two-year-old, so that’s why it took him a little time to get started last year.”

Search Engine returned $3.20, $2.20, and $2.10 as the heavy favorite. He won the two-year-old portion of the Indiana Sires Stakes Final last season at Indiana Downs. Search Engine has earned over $62,400 for owner and breeder Dr. George McClarnon, a retired veterinarian from Greenfield, Ind. White trains Search Engine.

Fun Time and driver Don Irvine Jr. made a fantastic move in the stretch to take the second division Saturday. Tipping out from the rail late in the lane, the tandem split horses en route to a 1:54.1 mile. The win was the first of the season for Fun Time in just two starts.

“It was tight there in the stretch,” said Irvine Jr. “We had just enough room there late to win. He (Fun Time) was jammed up at the half. If I didn’t make the move at the right time, I would have been pushed back to fourth. I knew it was time to pull the trigger.”

Fun Time fought back from having the disadvantage of the outside post position. Getting away in third before the first quarter in :27.3, he led at one point in the race down the backstretch.

Following leader Catmando and driver Joe Essig Jr. in the final turn, Irvine Jr. stalked patiently along the pylons. Shortly after, Fun Time shot out again to get the lead and held on to win. Full Of Cinnamon and Joe Putnam finished second. Catmando held on for third.

Fun Time returned $6.40, $3.60, and $2.40 as the post time favorite. The three-year-old gelding started out the season with a second place finish at Hoosier Park. He has bankrolled over $43,000 for owners Zachary Miller and Phil Harts. Alvin Miller trains the product of Full Of Fun.

“He (Fun Time) was such a small horse last year as a two-year-old,” said Miller. “His competitors have really out grown him this season. I am really hoping he can pick it up another notch or two this year.”

Mayflowermoonshine won his 2007 debut in the final split Saturday night. Piloted to victory by Putnam, the tandem took the lead at the top of the stretch to win in a time of 1:56.4.

“He (Mayflowermoonshine) was ready to go tonight,” said Putnam. “He had a couple of good qualifying attempts in him. We paced home in a pretty good time I thought. Everything worked out well for us.”

Mayflowermoonshine came back from the fifth position at the beginning of the race. Hanging wide down the backstretch, he took the lead well into the final turn as he led the way to the third-quarter in 1:30.0.

Nursing a one and one-quarter length lead in the stretch, Mayflowermoonshine had to hold off a late charging Apache’s Gold and driver Mike Peterson, who finished second. Eden Burst and Irvine held their ground to finish third.

Mayflowermoonshine paid $7.00, $3.80, and $2.60 for the win. He was two for 10 in his two-year-old campaign. The victory pushes his career earnings to over $57,000. Dan Bowermaster and Thomas Cole own the son of Pilgrims Punch. Bowermaster also trains the Indiana-sired horse.

“I would have been happy with just a top-three finish,” said Bowermaster. “I trained him (Mayflowermoonshine) in :57 before I left home. He seemed a little anxious. He was comfortable when we put his hood on him. It is still a long season.” (Hoosier Park press release)

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