Fans at Hoosier Park were treated to a stakes-filled card to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, with the main event – the $60,000 Thanksgiving Classic - featuring Ontario sensation Bulldog Hanover.
In rein to John De Long, Bulldog Hanover parked for the first half of the tilt before taking command at the mid-way point. After travelling overland through early splits of :25.3 and :54.1, the Jack Darling trainee then led past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before using a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Goldies Legacy in 1:51.4. Big Gulp was third.
It marked the fourth straight score for the son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall, who races for Jack Darling Stables Ltd and Brad Grant. The win improved his 2021 record to 10-2-1 from 15 starts while lifting his lifetime earnings to $931,061.
Kobes Gigi was a front-stepping winner in the $40,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old pacing fillies in a time of 1:52.1 for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Melissa Essig.
The daughter of JK Endofanera-Twin Oaks Tess led the field through stanzas of :26.1, :56 and 1:25.2 before jetting home in :26.4 to win by 6-3/4 lengths over DC Batgirl in 1:52.1. High Minded rounded out the Trifecta ticket in the five-filly affair.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Kobes Gigi posted her sixth win of the campaign while pushing her lifetime earnings past $200,000 for owners Leander Schwartz and Black And White Stable.
Dewtifuls Grace pulled off a 14-1 stunner in the $47,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting fillies.
With Joey Putnam at the lines, the daughter of Pine Credit-Dewtiful Lass got away fifth and held that position while heavily-favoured Pub Crawl chopped out splits of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.3. The favourite came under pressure late and gave way to Dewtifuls Grace in the closing strides. The upset winner fired home in :27.3 to win by a head over Pub Crawl in 1:55. Country Girl Charm was third.
Lewayne Miller trains the eight-time winner for Oakwood Farms, Kristen Wagler and Eleven Star Stables. The career winner of $181,665 now boasts a 6-9-1 record from 22 trips to the track this season.
Swingforthefences came through on his pari-mutuel promise, however, for Team Wrenn in the $54,000 Thanksgiving Classic for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
The son of Swan For All-Sunday Yankee worked his way into the pocket early for driver Peter Wrenn, who then swept his charge to the lead before the half. In charge through middle panels of :57.1 and 1:27, the sophomore then used a closing quarter in :28 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Platinum AS in 1:55. Brookview Bolt grabbed the show dough.
Melanie Wrenn trains the gelding for David McDuffee and L And L Devisser LLC. The win was the trotter’s 12th of the season and the 15th of his career. He’s put away over $550,000 in earnings this year and more than $680,000 to date.
JKs On The Move prevailed in the $26,500 Stringer Ball for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Trace Tetrick mapped out the winning trip for the Zachary Miller pupil who rallied for the 1:57 score.
The son of JK Endofanera-Sweet Electric got away sixth before improving to be fourth at the mid-way point. He was first over and leading at the three-quarter pole in 1:28 before using a :29-second final frame to win by a head over race favourite Topville Alexander in 1:57. Imalwaysclassy was third.
Dessa Miller and Ted Comerford share ownership on the rookie who improved his freshman record to 2-4-0 from 10 attempts. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his overall cash stash to $29,050.
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All Rights Reserved | Seelster Farm
Site designed by patchwork design
in conjunction with Lambeth Desktop
Photos: Ann Straatman, Dave Landry and others