Harrah’s Hoosier Park Hosts Final Night of Grand Circuit Racing Action
Photos courtesy of Dean Gillette Photography.
ANDERSON, Ind.—November 6, 2020—Just one week after hosting the 37th edition of the Breeders Crown, Grand Circuit racing action was back in the spotlight at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, November 6 as some of the sport’s brightest stars ventured back to Hoosier Park for the final night of Grand Circuit racing this season. The evening’s 13-race card was highlighted by the $160,000 Monument Circle Pace for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, the $140,000 Carl Erskine Trot for three-year-old colt trotters, the $100,000 Crossroads of America for three-year-old filly trotters and the $100,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Trainer Nancy Takter teamed up with driver Dexter Dunn to capture two winners on the evening’s program as the duo first found the winner’s circle with JK First Lady in the $100,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial. JK First Lady was able to overcome a first-over trip to wear down her stablemate and the heavily favored Breeders Crown champion Peaky Sneaky and Yannick Gingras to get the victory in 1:49.1. The 1:49.1 victory equaled her lifetime mark.
“She has such a beautiful gait, she makes it look easy,” Takter noted of her filly. “She’s definitely fresh which helps a lot at this point in the season.”
JK First Lady has now won five of 13 outs this season while pushing her lifetime bankroll to $695,731. The homebred daughter of Western Ideal—Jk She’salady is owned by the 3 Brothers Stables.
Takter and Dunn were back in the winner’s circle in the very next stakes race on the program, the $100,000 Crossroads of America for three-year-old trotting fillies after a decisive victory from Spoiled Princess. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Spoiled Princess rallied off cover and was able to hold off a late surge from May Baby and James Yoder to get the win by a length and a half in 1:52.2.
“Last week (in the Breeders Crown Final) she lost a bit of her momentum in the last turn,” Takter said. “We made some equipment adjustments this week and she was much better. She’s definitely in great shape and came to me in great shape but she’s been particularly sharp these past couple weeks.”
The daughter of Trixton—Fashion Spooner recorded her sixth win from 14 seasonal starts. Owned by Black Horse Racing and Christina Takter, Spoiled Princess has now amassed $226,136 in lifetime purse earnings.
After a narrow miss in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old trotting colts last week, Play Trix On Me and driver Joe Bongiorno were out for a redemption victory and got it in the $140,000 Carl Erskine Trot in 1:53.
Using similar tactics as his previous two efforts at Hoosier Park, Bongiorno sent Play Trix On Me away from the gate for position. Play Trix On Me reached the front through the opening panel in :26.4 before yielding the lead to Ready For Moni and Yannick Gingras. Ready For Moni lead the field through splits of :56 and 1:25.1 and when the field turned for home, the race appeared to be wide open. Play Trix On Me found late racing room up the inside and utilized a :27.2 closing quarter to the get the win over It’s Academic and Chris Page.
“It feels so good to be in the winner’s circle after last week,” Bongiorno noted after the victory. “I don’t normally feel torn up after a race but I was still feeling torn about that one even two days later. He raced so well. He’s confident and has great gate speed, but it just wasn’t enough.”
“I got so lucky picking up the drive on this horse,” he continued. “I remember looking at his lines and thinking ‘he’s been good all year, he just hasn’t gotten lucky for a win.’ He got that tonight and raced really, really well again for me.”
Trained by Linda Toscano, Play Trix On Me is owned by Renee Spahr. The son of Trixton—Lima Playmate recorded his fourth win of the season from 14 outs. Play Trix On Me now sports a lifetime bankroll of $242,971.
In the final stakes race of the evening, World Champion and co-track record holder Cattlewash was back in the Hoosier Park winner’s circle after an authoritative score in the $160,000 Monument Circle Pace for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. With regular pilot David Miller in the bike, Cattlewash utilized his customary front-running tactics to win by two lengths and stop the timer in 1:48.3.
Tattoo Artist and Joe Bongiorno set the hot early tempo of :25.4 before Miller gave Cattlewash the green light down the backside. Cattlewash rattled off fractions of :54.1 and 1:21.4 before pacing home in :26.4 to get the victory over stablemate Elver Hanover and driver Chris Page. Catch The Fire and Mike Wilder rallied well late to round out the trifecta. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Cattlewash returned $3.40 for the victory.
“The trip worked out well for us tonight,” Miller noted in the winner’s circle. “He definitely races his best race on the front—he’s very game on the lead. He got a little bit of a late start this season but he has really come around lately and going two heats in the Jug was the best thing for him. He was as strong tonight as he has been all year.”
Trained by Ron Burke, the son of Somebeachsomewhere—Road Bet was bred and is owned by W J Donovan. Cattlewash has now won 5 of 14 seasonal starts while earning $709,977 lifetime.
Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday, November 7 with a 13-race card. Live racing will then move to a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule for the final two weeks of the 2020 live racing meet which will conclude on November 21. For more information on the upcoming live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
