ANDERSON, Ind.-July 8, 2016 – After a week's worth of stakes action, the pacing fillies took their turn in the spotlight at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino as they played host to the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals for both the two and three-year-old pacing fillies.
It was the opening round of the $75,000 finals for the two-year-old competitors and the second round of $75,000 finals for the sophomore competitors.
The three-year-old pacing fillies kicked off the stakes action for the evening and it was Seventimesavirgin and John DeLong who delivered as the heavy betting favorite to score in a new lifetime best of 1:51.1. Using the Hoosier Park passing lane to her advantage, Seventimesavirgin notched her second consecutive victory to make a clean sweep of the second round of the stakes action.
Leaving from post three, Seventimesavirgin protected her inside position but Endeavors Fantasy and Sam Widger also left alertly to grab the first call in :26.1. It was a bit of give and go as DeLong sent Seventimesavirgin back out to the front but just as she grabbed command at the half in :54.2 Topville Cadillac and Tyler Smith were up to take the lead.
Topville Cadillac continued to call the shots at the three-quarter clocking in 1:23.3 but the rest of the field was closing in. Seventimesavirgin sat patiently in the pocket before DeLong found late racing room up the passing lane and she powered home using a :27.1 final quarter. Seventimesavirgin finished three lengths in front of a hard-charging Aux D Lox Bluegrass while Topville Cadillac held on for third.
"The trip never works out like you think it will," DeLong said with a smile in the winner's circle. "She raced very well, she doesn't like having to wait, she always wants to go but she loves to pace home. She's just awesome."
Owned by Jesse DeLong, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Mrs Grant Seven is also trained by John DeLong and notched her fifth victory of the season from six starts. Seventimesavirgin has now amassed $182,240 lifetime while winning 10 of 18 lifetime outings.
A little later on in the evening, Rockin Serena and Trace Tetrick powered off cover to score as the longest shot on the board in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for two-year-old pacing fillies. Sent off at odds of 44-1, Rockin Serena was able to overcome post position nine and used the long Hoosier Park stretch to her advantage to score in a new lifetime best of in 1:55. The victory was also one of five winners on the program for Hoosier Park's leading driver Trace Tetrick.
Owned by Kales Co., Dolne Farm Services, S&R Racing Stables, and Wrenn Racing, Rockin Serena is trained by Melanie Wrenn and notched her first win from two starts. The daughter of Rockin Image-Day Lily Hanover has now earned $37,900 lifetime for her connections.
With the wins, both Rockin Serena and Seventimesavirgin also earned points for the $200,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Super Finals slated for October 15 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The Indiana Sires Stakes program will culminate with the top ten point earners from the previous $75,000 finals in each division returning to compete in the super finals.
Indiana Sires Stakes action returns to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, July 9 with the second of five $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for the three-year-old pacing colts. With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12.
by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park