Up Front Peyton, Wigwam Baby capture Hoosier Park features

Up Front Peyton and driver Ricky Macomber proved to be the best in the end of the $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, April 19. The duo used a perfect second-over journey to nab the top spot in a time of 1:52.2.

Macomber placed Up Front Peyton near the back of the pack from the start before getting on Search Engine's back heading down the backstretch as the field moved to the halfway mark in :55.3 after an opening panel of :26.0. Up Front Peyton kept his head in the game as the field rounded the turn behind new leader, Rebelman and Joe Essig Jr., who took over for Winforu N and Brad Hanners at the halfway point.

In the stretch, Rebelman and Search Engine locked up in a stretch duel, neither giving an inch. However, in the end, it was Up Front Peyton who had the strongest stride, scoring his third win of the year in 11 outings. Big Tim and Don Irvine Jr. snuck up for second over Search Engine for third.

The victory was the 12th career trip to the winner's circle for Up Front Peyton. The five-year-old Dragon Again horse is owned by Ed Mullinax of Amherst, Ohio. Dick Macomber trains Up Front Peyton.

"We got this horse last fall heading into the winter at Pompano Park," said Dick Macomber. "He's a class old horse. We try to do as little as possible with him in between races. He's a little lazy in the early stages, but has a good brush at the end. He's much better racing from off the pace."

The victory for Macomber Jr. was his fourth on the program. He concluded the week with 12 wins, including three triple-win nights and one four-win evening.

Wigwam Baby and driver Dan Shetler proved to be the toughest, even against the boys in the $23,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, April 19. The five-year-old daughter of Padre Hanover was a solid winner in a time of 1:56.0.

Enduring a first-over journey from the halfway point home, Wigwam Baby finally caught a little cover halfway through the turn from favored Speed N The Tunnel and Trace Tetrick, which was just enough leverage to get them home first for the win. Speed N The Tunnel finished second. Big Boy Josh and Charlie Conrad rallied home for third.

"She (Wigwam Baby) is really little, but she has a big heart," said Shetler. "She is very easy to drive, and you can place her anywhere you need to during a race. I really didn't want to be first over again tonight, but we just couldn't flush anyone going down the backside, but we did catch a little break to follow the favorite (Speed N The Tunnel) into the stretch."

Wigwam Baby took a mark of 1:54.0 last year at Indiana Downs, making her the fastest Indiana-sired trotting mare ever. Bred and owned by Don Swartzentruber of Loogootee, Ind., Wigwam Baby now has 18 career wins in 66 career starts. (Hoosier Park)

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