Series and stakes action abundant at Indy Downs

A trio of late closing series finals and a pair of Indiana Sires Stakes contests highlighted racing action at Indiana Downs Tuesday evening, October 13. It was a tough night for favorites as only one, Viking Kilowatt, made it to the winner’s circle in the five events. The Kilowatt colt equaled his lifetime best performance with a two-length victory in a $25,000 ISS division.

 

Finals action kicked off in the night’s second race with the $20,000 La Paloma finale for filly and mare pacers. Trainer Charlie Conrad and Time To Celebrate took command after a :29 opening panel and clicked off fractions of :58.4 and 1:27.2 before hitting the wire six lengths in front in 1:55. Favorite Redneck Alibi followed in second and Outahere raced third.

 

Time To Celebrate, a three-year-old Carlsbad Cam filly, lowered her lifetime best by more than a full second in the victory. Bred by Don Conrad, who co-owns the sophomore with Sarah Conrad, Time To Celebrate recorded her seventh win of the season and pushed her career earnings to $57,568.

 

Joeneedstogo and Trace Tetrick overtook a tiring React Ingoodway in the lane and held off favorite Dreamen Alibi to win the $20,000 Hal Dale final Tuesday by a length and a half. The three-year-old Mark Johnathan gelding paced to his fourth win of the season in a career best 1:53.4. In Theory and Dan Shetler finished third.

 

Bred by Michael Wamsley and Mark Heath, Joeneedstogo did not race at two. The sophomore, out of Nobleland Sam mare Su-post-to-go, is owned by Wamsley and Janie Hartley. He improved his career earnings to $38,572 with the win.

 

Joe Cat and Ricky Macomber grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and reached the wire half a length ahead of a closing Allways Secret and Brandon Bates to win the $20,000 Expression final for trotters in 1:58.2. D K Token and Jason Dillander were third. It was the ninth win of the season for Joe Cat, now a winner of $137,910 in 2009.

 

The Profile’s Delux gelding is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and Frank Baldachino. Out of Vision’s Pride mare Jodie Cat, the three year old was bred by Abraham Wittmer, who campaigned the gelding until selling him privately in early September.

 

McStraight and Trace Tetrick earned a much-needed win in the $25,000 first leg of Indiana Sires Stakes competition for freshman colt pacers Tuesday night, stopping the clock in 1:54.3. The Third Straight colt earned a spot in the $125,000 final, slated for October 24, with the win. Gusto Gus paced two lengths back in second while Electric Oui rounded out the trifecta.

 

Owned and bred by Jackie and Sally Jo Richard, McStraight finished sixth in the $125,000 series one final. He has since followed with a fourth and fifth-place finish in the first two preliminary legs of series two. Tuesday’s victory was his fourth seasonal score, and lowered his lifetime best by more than two seconds. The colt has earned just under $51,000 in 10 starts this year.

 

Viking Kilowatt and Trent Stohler wired the field in their respective $25,000 division, tripping the timer in 1:55.3. The duo finished two lengths in front of Marky Mike, driven by Mark O’Mara. Iron Claw, second choice in the contest, paced third for trainer Charlie Conrad. The Kilowatt gelding equaled his best effort with the win.

 

The freshman was bred by Howard Peterson, who co-owns Viking Kilowatt with Stohler. Out of Cambest mare Cam Bam Mam, the gelding has won six of 10 starts in 2009, finishing second four times. The victory pushed his bankroll to $96,250. Viking Kilowatt finished second in the $125,000 series one final to Iron Claw.