Gran Gabriel made her second appearance this season in Open company a winning one as she captured the $24,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (April 27) in a lifetime best effort. Driver Jason Dillander picked up the drive for trainer Terry Cullipher after Cullipher opted to drive stable mate, Carmen O from post five.

Gran Gabriel was unhurried out of the gate as she left from post three to find herself third along the rail through the opening turn.  Josh Sutton and Tyler Smith were in an early battle for the lead as Smith and Aqua Artist found the front end through a first quarter split of :27. However, their lead was short lived as Ronnie Wrenn Jr. urged C R Hope to the outside and had control of the field by the halfway point in a time of :55.4. Gran Gabriel and Dillander were perfectly placed third along the rail with Keene Supreme and Ed Hensley following closely in fourth.

The tempo of the race continued as Cadie’s Gotta Gun and Dale Hiteman were the first to make a run at the leader heading into the final turn through a three-quarter clocking in 1:25.0. As the field began to fan out across the track, Dillander was able to steer Gran Gabriel through traffic to stop the clock in 1:52.4 over the bettor’s choice, Hoponit. Forever Showin Off and Charlie Conrad came into the picture late from the back of the pack to rally for the third place finish.

Trained by Terry Cullipher, Gran Gabriel has now earned over $150,000 lifetime in 33 starts. Sired by Dontgetinmyway, the four-year-old mare is owned by Gary Hayes. Gran Gabriel returned $10.60 for the win. The exacta including Gran Gabriel and the heavily favored Hoponit paid $87.00 with the trifecta paying $156.10.

Three divisions of the Tubby Trimble Series, a late closing event open to Indiana sired three-year-olds and up that are non-winners of $30,000 life, were contested at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (April 19).

Artychoke (#4) wins the first division of the Tubby Trimble

Artychoke, trained by Art Gregory Jr., was the first divisional winner and one of four wins on the night for driver Sam Widger. The three-year-old gelding reached the wire in 1:54.4 with a closing panel in :28.4. The three-year-old gelding was sent out aggressively from post four but sat parked through opening splits of :29.1 and 57.1. Artychoke cleared to the front just after the half mile marker as Widger controlled the tempo through a three-quarter clocking in 1:27.0. Artychoke was able to hold off a late rally from both Skyway Poncho and Wilbur’s Z Tam who finised second and third respectively. Artychoke has now won three of five starts on the season as he has bankrolled over $18,000 on the year for his owner , Dennis Brightwell.

Royal Todd made his three-year-old debut a winning one as he took the second the division of the Trimble series in a lifetime best effort of 1:55.1. Sam Widger found the famed circle once again with the son of Royal Art as he mapped out a perfect ground saving trip to edge out their rivals by a length. Royal Todd is trained by Rod Lorenzo who also co-owns the gelding with Dobbins Standardbred, Inc. G’s O Pete and Ricky Macomber Jr. followed Royal Todd to finish second as S D Flightplan and Roger Cullipher held on for the third place finish.

Moveoutofmyway was able to take advantage of a miscue by the heavy betting favorite and the Jerry Landess series final winner, Our Lucky Chip, to take the third split of the late closing action with a final time of 1:54.4. Ricky Macomber Jr. sent the three-year-old gelding to the front from post five through a first quarter in :27.3. Our Lucky Chip, who was undefeated thus far in 2012, made a break down the backside to leave the race wide open. Macomber yielded the lead to Flightreactor and Sam Widger as they led the field of nine through a 1:27.2 three-quarter time. Macomber tipped Moveoutofmyway out from behind the leader to march home a winner with a :27.1 final panel. Flightreactor held on for a second place finish as Our Lucky Chip and Tetrick staged a big rally from the back of the field to finish third. Trained by Ron Burke, Moveoutofmyway posted his second win in three starts in 2012.

The Tubby Trimble series continues with another $12,500 preliminary leg and the $20,000 slated for Thursday, May 3^rd.

Royal Passion Continues her Undefeated streak in the second leg of The Bill Thompson series

After successfully sweeping the Miss Windfall Series at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Royal Passion extended her dominating win streak with a triumph in the second $12,500 leg of the Bill Thompson series on Tuesday (April 24).The Rod Lorenzo trained filly is now a perfect five for five in her sophomore season as she bested her lifetime mark to 1:55.4.

Walter Haynes Jr. sent Nucs Southern Bell to the front powerfully from post nine as they led the field of ten through splits of :26.2 and :55.4. Tetrick and Royal Passion sat contently along the rail in third while Electric Tigress and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. reaped the benefits of a pocket trip in second. Tetrick asked the three-year-old filly to make a bid to the front as the field headed into the last turn and they never looked back. Reaching the three-quarter marker in 1:26.1, Royal Passion romped home to win by a length and a half over a closing Electric Tigress. Jodi Girl and Sam Widger also closed hard late in the stretch to get up for the third place finish.  Royal Passion paid $3.00 to win as the heavy betting favorite.

The daughter of Royal Art-Nukalar Passion is owned and bred by Dobbins Standardbred Inc. and has career earnings of over $29,000.

In the second division of the late closing action, E R Sister was able to find racing room late to reach the winner’s circle in 1:56.3. Pete Wrenn sent Bittersweet Best to the front to dictate fractions of :27, :57.4, and 1:27.1. The Don Eash trained and driven E R Sister benefitted from a pocket sitting trip as the bettor’s choice, Springhouse Waltz, sat fourth along the rail. Eash tipped the daughter of Allamerican Captor-Dragonshine out from the rail down the long Hoosier Park stretch as she responded with a :29.1 closing panel to win over Springhouse Waltz by three-parts of a length.

E R Sister has now recorded two wins on the year as she increased her lifetime earnings over the $20,000 mark for her owners, Eash Racing Stable Inc. E R Sister returned $9.60 for the win.

The Bill Thompson series continues with the $20,000 final slated for Tuesday, May 1^st at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Forever Showin Off and Charlie Conrad capturing the Fillies and Mares Invitational

Forever Showin Off and driver, trainer Charlie Conrad seized an opportunity in late stretch to score the 20-1 upset in the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (April 20). Neither the jump in class nor sloppy track seemed to hinder the eight-year-old daughter of Allamerican Ingot as she posted her second win of the season.

Starting from post four in the eight horse line-up, Forever Showin Off made her way to the rail at the start, landing in the fourth spot behind early race leader and heavy betting favorite Go On BB who reached the first quarter-mile marker in a brisk :26.2. Driver Ricky Macomber Jr. and Go On BB were quickly contested as Tyler Smith had Aqua Artist out and firing down the backside. Aqua Artist controlled the tempo as they reached the half in :57.1. Forever Showin Off and Conrad sat mid pack for much of the mile and their odds of joining the outer flow were dwindling with every step. As the field brushed by the three-quarter mark in 1:25.4, Conrad opted for a ground-saving trip as he sent the eight-year-old mare up the rail to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2 over Aqua Artist, who was a hard fought second. Fox Valley Absolut and Sam Widger also closed quickly from mid-pack to finish third.

With 26 career wins, Forever Showin Off has now earned over $240,000 for her connections of Roselea Conrad and Fred Schroeder, who also bred the mare.

Forever Showin Off paid $23.00 to win. The tri-fecta including Forever Showin Off, Aqua Artist and Fox Valley Absolut paid $612.00.

Aqua Artist (#6) and Tyler Smith hold on to win the $24,000 Fillies & Mares Invite

Aqua Artist and driver Tyler Smith made it a gate to wire effort to win the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Invitational Friday (Apr 13) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The duo tripped the timer in 1:53.1 for the win.

A late scratch reduced the field to eight starters behind the starting gate as Tyler Smith gave the five-year-old mare the go ahead to leave. Aqua Artist left alertly from post five just as quickly as Josh Sutton and Hoponit left from post seven in an opening panel of :28. The duo yielded the lead to Hoponit and Sutton but weren’t content to sit long as they retook the lead just after the first quarter to reach the half in :56.1. Go On BB, Indiana’s first millionaire mare, and driver Ricky Macomber were fourth along the rail. The field finally began to shift through the three quarters in 1:23.3 as Smith asked the Artsplace-Aquatic Yankee for more.  She responded with a final quarter in :29.3 to hold off hard charging Go On BB and driver Ricky Macomber who finished second by a head. Hoponit held on for the third place finish.

Trained by Steve Bauder, Aqua Artist now has 14 career wins and four wins on the season. She has now bankrolled over $170,000 for her connections of Harold Lee Bauder, Michael Dixon, and Harold L Bauder. Aqua Artist now has over $30,000 in earnings for 2012 as she spent the early part of the season racing in the open mare ranks on the Chicago circuit.

The win for Smith was one of two on the card. Smith is currently in fifth place in the driver stands with 9 wins through the first two weeks of racing. The native of Ohio is in his second season at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Trace Tetrick guides Royal Passion to victory in the $15,000 Miss Windfall Final

Royal Passion swept the Miss Windfall Series, a late closing event open to three and four-year-old Indiana sired fillies and mares that are non-winners of $7,500 lifetime, off a tough front end effort at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday (April 10). In just her third start of the season, the three-year-old filly has now increased her lifetime bankroll to over $17,000. After winning both divisions of the Windfall series, the three-year-old filly is now 3 for 3. Driver Trace Tetrick steered the filly to victory from the rail spot for trainer Rod Lorenzo after Jason Dillander chose to drive the slight betting favorite, Reaching Chip from post five.

It was a race filled with miscues as the 10 horse field showed their inexperience from the start. Iza May and driver Kayne Kauffman took themselves out of the race early after a break behind the starting car. A miscue from Miss Kilo and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. stepping out of the gate spread the field through the first turn in an opening split of :27. Tetrick and Royal Passion maintained their rail position and made the front as they caught a breather down the backside through a soft half in :57.2. Bittersweet Best and driver Pete Wrenn benefitted from a pocket trip as Jason Dillander and Reaching Chip had their work cut out for them from the fourth spot.

Pulling first up down the backside to move around a tiring Skyway Shania, Reaching Chip and Dillander began their quest to the front heading into the last turn. As they reached the final turn, the trip proved to be a taxing one as Reaching Chip showed a touch of roughness through a three-quarter time of 1:27.1. Bittersweet Best and Wrenn tipped out of the pocket down the lane only to be denied by Royal Passion as she stopped the clock in 1:56.1 with a closing panel of :29. Reaching Chip rallied late to finish a hard fought second as Bittersweet Best held on for the third place finish.

“She’s good on the gate and a really nice filly to drive,” Tetrick said of his mount. “I knew I wanted to be somewhere towards the front, the trip worked out for us and she held on tough at the end of it. I was really happy with the way she fought off those other mares down the stretch. I thought she may get tired but she felt good at the wire.”

Sired by Royal Art, Royal Passion is owned and bred by Dobbins Standardbred Inc. of Bryant, Al. Royal Passion nearly doubled her career earnings with the win as she is now three for five in her career. As the bettor’s second choice, Royal Passion paid $5.20 to win.

Willy Mucha with driver Ed Hensley winning the $24,000 Invitational Pace

Willy Mucha and driver Ed Hensley proved to be much the best as they pulled off a 14-1 upset in the $24,000 Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino on Wednesday (Apr 11).

Willy Mucha left alertly from post five securing a spot third on the rail while Lookinforadventure and Jason Dillander maintained their rail position to head the field of seven through an opening quarter of :27.1. Heavy Favorite Allthatgltrsisgold and Josh Sutton could see the entire field as they sat seventh much of the way with the public’s second choice, Freddyscooter, just one in front of them in sixth. Hensley opted out of a three hole trip as he had a headstrong Willy Mucha out and rolling down the backside to find the half mark in :56.2.

Easily securing the lead from Lookinforadventure, Willy Mucha and Hensley prepared for the arsenal of horse power behind them. Blueridge Doc and Andy Shetler were the first to make a run at the leader as they pulled first up through a mild three-quarters in 1:25.1 with Dontsaygoodby and Pete Wrenn in tow. Freddyscooter and Trace Tetrick found themselves third over to execute their usual come from behind strategy.

Hensley went to work on Willy Mucha who responded with a :27.1 last quarter to hold off a hard charging Get It Now and Ricky Macomber Jr. The seven-year-old scored in 1:52.2 to match his previous best that was set at Indiana Downs two years ago. Freddyscooter rallied late to finish third by a length and a quarter.

“I didn’t plan on cutting the mile with him, especially in this group of horses,” Hensley said of his mount. “He surprised me tonight; he fought off those horses down the lane and really impressed me. He has always been a nice horse but I didn’t think he could win in that class. He definitely impressed me tonight with the way he raced.”

Willy Mucha paid $31.60 to win for driver and trainer Ed Hensley who also co-owns the chesnut gelding with Jessica Hensley. The Real Artist-Tupelo Rose N gelding increased his career earnings to over $168,000 with his second win of the year.

The trend continued in the co-featured $24,000 Open trot as Proud Yankee found late trotting room in deep stretch to pull of the 10-1 upset at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Dismissed at 10-1, Proud Yankee had his work cut out for him as he left from post five with three-time Indiana Trotter of the year, Abc Mercedes to his outside in post six and heavy betting favorite, Winning Mister, starting from assigned post seven. Abc Mercedes made an un-characteristic break behind the starting car as Pete Wrenn sent Winning Mister to the front in a brisk opening quarter of :27.2.

The field remained in single file line as Winning Mister and Wrenn led the field through a half of :56.2. Rompaway Beau benefitted from a two-hole trip as Proud Yankee and driver Sam Widger sat fourth. Winning Mister and Wrenn looked to have the race well in hand as they turned for home reaching the three-quarter mark in 1:25.1. Widger and Proud Yankee timed their attack perfectly as they tipped around a tiring Christina Victory and driver Jimmy Smith to take their run at the leader. With a last quarter in :28.2, Proud Yankee split his rivals to take the lion’s share of the purse in a final time of 1:54.3. Winning Mister held on for second as Rompaway Beua and Magee rounded out the tri-fecta.

The six-year-old horse is trained by Danny Collins and is owned by Margaret Hobbs of Mullins, SC. In his first win of the year, Proud Yankee has now increased his earnings to over the $125,000 mark. Sired by Muscles Yankee, the six-year-old horse has now won 15 times and sports a lifetime mark of 1:54.1.

Our Lucky Chip and driver Trace Tetrick capture the $15,000 Jerry Landess Final

Our Lucky Chip completed the Jerry Landess Series sweep as the three-year-old colt rattled off a sharp front end effort in the $15,000 final of the late closing event  open to three and four-year-old Indiana sired colts and geldings that are non-winners of $7,500 lifetime at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (Apr 12).

Adam Short attempted to control the fractions as he sent Cage Fighter to the front from post six through a first quarter clocking of :27.3. Using much the same strategy as weeks past, Our Lucky Chip and driver Trace Tetrick settled in to the third spot along the rail only to make their move to the front down the backside. The heavy betting favorite led the field of ten through a half of :57.2 with the pocket sitting Cage Fighter two lengths behind . Ricky Macomber Jr. was the first to commit as he gave Wilbur’s Z Tam the cue to go first up heading into the final turn. With a three-quarter clocking 1:25.3, Our Lucky Chip demonstrated his ability once again as he opened up on the field to reach the wire well in hand in 1:53.0. Wilbur’s Z Tam held on to finish second as Sam Widger and Artychoke rallied late to finish third. Winning by three and a half lengths, the son of Art’s Chip marched home in :27.2.

Trainer Jason Miller, who purchased Our Lucky Chip as a weanling for his partnership with Bradley Roller of Wabash, IN, said his colt still has some learning to do.

“He was a touch hesitant off the gate last week and I think that was just from inexperience,” Miller noted. “I told Trace he would be better this week and he was. I was really happy with the way he raced tonight.”

Our Lucky Chip is now three for three in 2012 and five of six in his limited lifetime outings. With over $18,000 bankrolled, Our Lucky Chip will be aimed toward the Indiana Sire Stakes beginning in early May.

“I was really confident in my colt tonight,” Tetrick said of his mount. “I wasn’t sure who was going to make a run at him but the race worked out in our favor. He felt very strong at the wire and I was really happy with the way he raced.”

Royal Passion and driver Jason Dillander cruise to victory in a leg of the Miss Windfall Series

The second leg of the Miss Windfall Series, a late closing event open to three and four-year-old Indiana sired fillies and mares that are non-winners of $7,500 lifetime, was contested with four divisions at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Tuesday, April (3).

The fastest of the four divisions went to driver Jason Dillander and Royal Passion posting a new lifetime best in 1:56.0. Trained by Rod Lorenzo, Royal Passion is now two for two in 2012 as she also won the first leg of the series. Leaving from post three, the heavy betting favorite sat parked through opening fractions of :28:2 and :57.3. Royal Passion slowly made her bid to the front through the three-quarters in 1:27.1. Never contested down the lane, the three-year-old filly sired by Royal Art marched home in :28.4 to win by a length and a half. Royal Passion has now bankrolled $10,240 for her connections, Dobbins Standardbreds Inc. of Bryant, Al.

After making a clean sweep of the early daily double, Jason Dillander then made quick work of the third race, another division of the Miss Windfall Series, with Reaching Chip. Trained by Robert Reeser, the Art’s Chip filly found the winner’s circle in 1:56.4 with a closing panel of :28.1. Reaching Chip has also made a clean sweep of her divisions in the Miss Windfall series as she is now two for two, elevating her career earnings to $10,000. “She’s a really nice filly,” Dillander said of his mount. “She’s still green and has a lot to learn, so I had to be careful with her. She has plenty of speed but can be touchy. I was really happy with the way she raced tonight on the front end.”

Miss Kilo and driver Peter Wrenn took advantage of a perfect pocket trip to edge out their opponents in 1:57.1. The three-year-old filly sired by Kilowatt was able to split horses down the lane through a :28.1 final panel to win in a career best time. Owned by Bernard Brown of Saginaw, MI, Miss Kilo is trained by Tim Roach and has now won three of her lifetime starts.

In the final division of the late closing action, driver Jason Dillander found the winner’s circle once again. Dillander steered Bittersweet Best to her maiden breaking victory in 1:57.0, giving Dillander his fourth win of the night and third of the series. Trained by Charlie Stewart, the Pro Bono Best filly rallied home in :28.3 after a taxing trip. Bittersweet Best held off a hard charging Tricksaremyway and driver Sam Widger, who finished a close second.“She’s a nice filly also,” Dillander said of the three-year-old filly. “I look for her to be better next week since this was only her first start, but she is a really nice filly to drive. It looks like I am going to have a tough decision to make next week when the $15,000 final rolls around.”

The Miss Windfall Series Final will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Our Lucky Chip and driver Trace Tetrick winning a division of the Jerry Landess Series

Favorites prevailed in the second round of the Jerry Landess Series at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (April 5).

The 1-9 betting favorite, Our Lucky Chip, visited Hoosier Park’s winner circle for the second consecutive time in his second start of the season. Driven by Trace Tetrick, the three-year-old colt showed his inexperience behind the gate as he was a touch hesitant in his approach. Ed Hensley and Prolabra left alertly from post eight to reach the front in a first quarter time of :28.0. James Z Tam and Ricky Macomber Jr. opted out of a two hole trip to move to the front down the backside reaching the half in :58.2. Sam Widger gave W White Comet the cue to make a brisk run at the leader just past the half with Our Lucky Chip in tow. W White Comet reached the leader’s wheel only to yield the lead to the bettor’s choice. With a three-quarter time in 1:27.1, Our Lucky Chip and Tetrick never looked back as they began to pull away from the ten horse field down the lane. The Art’s Chip colt was well in hand at the wire stopping the clock in 1:55.1 to win by six and a half lengths.

“This is a very nice colt,” Trace Tetrick said of his mount. “He’s a green colt but when he gets it all figured out I think he will be a very tough colt to beat.”

Our Lucky Chip will be one of the likely favorites in the $15,000 Jerry Landess Final on Thursday, April 12.

“I like my chances with him next week,” Tetrick said.  “He’s very competitive in that class of horses and if he stays as good as he was tonight he will be very good next week.”

Trace Tetrick also took the first division of the late closer with Freaky Flyer for trainer John Arrowood. The four-year-old son of Dontgetinmyway scored his first win of the year in a career best 1:57.1. The slight bettor’s choice took advantage of an easy second quarter to make his move to the front. Yielding to the pocket trip was Pete Wrenn and Lucky Ivan who finished second as ER Pacman and Don Eash finished a closing third. Freaky Flyer is owned Shelly Deters of Coconut Creek, FL.

Heavy Betting Favorite, Artychoke, took home the third division honors as he found the winner’s circle in a lifetime best of 1:55.0. Driver Sam Widger made quick work of the ten horse field as he moved the Art’s Chip colt to the lead just past the quarter mark in :27.1. The three-year-old colt led through fractions of :56.3 and 1:27.0. Wilbur’s Z Tam and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. made a move down the long Hoosier Park stretch only to finish second by a half of a length.  Mack Straight and driver Tyler Smith made a bold first over bid, but Artychoke responded with a :28.0 closing panel leaving Mack Straight to finish third. Artychoke is trained by Art Gregory Jr. and owned by Dennis Brightwell of Cedar Lake, IN.

Hash Slingnslasher had his work cut out for him as he started from the outside in post position nine.  Driver Ed Hensley made an early decision for position as he sent the four-year-old colt to the front through an opening panel of :28.1. The betting favorite, Country Roads, made his move to the lead down the backside as Hensley yielded for a pocket trip. Country Roads and Dave Magee led the field of nine through a leisurely half in 1:00.2. Hash Slingnslashr made his way through traffic to march home in a quick :27.3 final quarter and lifetime best performance of 1:57.4. Sired by Carlsbad Cam, Hash Slingnslashr is owned and trained by Ron Otto of Jefferson, OH.

Cage Fighter and Adam Short staged a big rally late to take their division of the Landess action to win by four lengths in 1:56.3 with a closing panel of :27.4. Tyber Tyke and driver Pete Wrenn finished second as Mc Chip and Trace Tetrick finished third. Cage Fighter is trained by Adam Short and owned by John E Mcgill of Albion, IN and Lavon Miller of Topeka, IN.