Harrah's Hoosier Park Hosts Thanksgiving Classic Stakes

ANDERSON, Ind.—November 24, 2023—Four divisions of the $60,000 Thanksgiving Classic were featured at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, November 24. After capturing the $190,000 Monument Circle Pace for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings and the $65,000 Star Destroyer Stakes, Coach Stefanos continued his winning ways at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in his split of the Thanksgiving Classic with a 1:50.1 score by two lengths. The 2023 Indiana Sires Stakes three-year-old trotting colt champion, Helpfirstedition was also back in the winner’s circle capturing his split of the Thanksgiving Classic action. 

The three-year-old trotting fillies kicked-off the stakes action for the evening and it was Believe U Me and driver John DeLong who converted a pocket trip into a 1:54.2 score. Using a :27.1 closing kick, Believe U Me tracked down the pace-setting Helpoftheseason and driver Peter Wrenn to get the win by nearly two lengths. Helpoftheseason settled for second while Foolish Games and Marvin Luna rallied well late for third. Sent off as the heavy betting favorite, Believe U Me returned $4.60 for the victory. 

Trained by Ron Burke, the daughter of Muscle Mass—I Believe captured her seventh win of the season and second straight Hoosier Park victory. Owned by W J Donovan, Believe U Me pushed her career earnings to $319,228. 

Helpfirstedition utilized similar tactics in the very next division, turning a pocket trip into a 1:53.4 score. French Wine and driver Andy Miller dictated fractions of :27.1. :58.1 and 1:27.2 without ever feeling a threat from the rest of the field. Turning for home, French Wine looked strong on the front but Helpfirstedition was winding up in the pocket. Using a :26 closing quarter, Helpfirstedition was able to track down a game French Wine and put a nose in front at the wire. 

Helpfirstedition notched his ninth win from 23 starts this season. With the second place finish, French Wine became the sport’s newest millionaire and will now be retired to stand stud at Winterwood Farms in Ohio. 

Helpfirstedition is trained by Missy Essig and owned in partnership by E. Wickey, J. Graber, Running Wild Stables and J. Schmucker. The gelded son of Helpisontheway—She Knows Swagger pushed his lifetime bankroll to $446,595. 

In the next division, it was Coach Stefanos who continued his winning ways with another impressive victory. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick in the bike, Coach Stefanos utilized his customary late rally, a :25.3 closing quarter to be exact, to get the victory by nearly two lengths and stop the timer in 1:50.1. It was the third straight victory and fourth win in the last five starts for the Erv Miller trainee. The victory was also one of six victories on the evening for Harrah's Hoosier Park's leading driver, Trace Tetrick. 

The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis—Watch N Be Watched has now won nine of 17 starts this season while bankrolling $565,365 in purse earnings. Coach Stefanos is owned in partnership by K.W. Duffy, D&M Trading li LLC and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos and now sports a lifetime bankroll of $841,420. 

The biggest upset of the evening came in the final division of the Thanksgiving Classic action as Racin Hungry and Peter Wrenn pulled the slight 6-1 upset in the three-year-old pacing filly division. Rallying from off the pace, Racin Hungry put together a :26.3 closing quarter and held off a late surge from Let’s Misbehave and Marvin Luna to get the win by a head in 1:52.3. 

Trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, the daughter of Stay Hungry—Four Stars Meliss scored her seventh win from 17 seasonal starts. Owned in partnership by Glenn Goller and Stephen Demeter, Racin Hungry pushed her lifetime bankroll to $212,051.