One of the most highly anticipated championships in the Governor’s Cup series was the first to kick off the day Wednesday, August 19. Two-year-old filly pacers lined up behind the gate with a big matchup between Sassie Kassie and Bella Notte, both of which had only experienced one defeat all season. In addition to those two fillies, the field included Velmissfoxyshooter, the only one to defeat Sassie Kassie this year and has not been off the board this year in nine starts. In the end, it was Sassie Kassie who claimed the title in the $25,000 final and equaled the Governor’s Cup record in 1:55.0. Sassie Kassie began from post four for driver Kevin Lambright and used just enough early speed to grab the two hole behind Velmissfoxyshooter and Mike Peterson who fired out for the lead. Bella Notte and Joey Putnam got away in third as the field passed by the first quarter in :28.0. It didn’t take long for Lambright to pull the pocket and send Sassie Kassie to the lead, settled in on top before the half in :57.3. As the field disappeared behind the trees in the infield, Sassie Kassie was still in the lead and Bella Notte had pulled first over and was inching up. When the field came back in sight, Sassie Kassie had a three-length advantage on the rest of the fillies, and maintained that advantage into the lane. In the stretch, Sassie Kassie pinned her ears and was all business, traveling home in :29.0 to score the win by two lengths. Velmissfoxyshooter came back and finished well for second with GD Captain Win and Michael Detweiler rounding out the top three. Sassie Kassie is a freshman daughter of Capt Midnight. She is owned and trained by Kassandra Lambright and was acquired by the Lambrights this spring from breeder Freeman Bontrager of Topeka, Ind. It was the biggest paycheck of the young filly’s career, boosting her bankroll to more than $25,000 with the win. It was also her career best effort, which equaled the time posted by Northern Nightstar and Kyle Wilfong earlier in the day in the $10,000 Governor’s Cup Consolation for two-year-old filly pacers. Another contender who completed a stellar season in the Quest for the Governor’s Cup Championships was three-year-old pacing filly It Liz Again, driven by Mike Peterson. The Highalator filly sat patiently in the two hole before taking over at the head of the lane and pacing home for the five and three-quarter length win in 1:53.1. Rita’s Girl, who led the division by points and driven by Kevin Detweiler, finished second over Ambehaving and Kevin Lambright for third. It Liz Again is owned by Chris Choros and Therl Hensley. Gerald Miller trains the filly, who is a home bred for Choros. It was her third straight win and her fourth during the preliminary rounds of the Governor’s Cup Championship. It was also a new career best for the sophomore pacer as she moved her career bankroll over the $60,000 mark. The biggest surprise on the day came in the three-year-old trotting filly division. Precisely, driven by Kevin Detweiler, came into the Championship in the final spot, ranked eighth on the list of qualifiers for the championship. Other divisional winners in the Governors Cup Championships included JK Barbar (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding pacing action, Cool Manner (Kevin Detweiler) in the two-year-old filly trot, Hidden Talent (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding trotting action, Charging Thunder (Mike Peterson) in the three-year-old colt and gelding pacing division, Precisely (Kevin Detweiler) among three-year-old filly trotters, and Don’t Tell Anyone (Kevin Detweiler) in the final division for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The Helpisontheway filly sat in mid pack before pulling out and going three-wide in the final turn. As they field headed down the stretch, Precisely took over and held her ground from Canipilotall and Clint Coy to win by a half length in 1:58.0. Topville Ideal finished third. Precisely is owned by Twoforone Stable and trained by Robert Wyman. Oakwood Farms bred and raised the filly, who earned her third win of the season and her sixth overall. The mile was also a new lifetime mark for Precisely.
Photo of Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron by Dean Gillette Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron scored their second straight win Tuesday, August 18 in the $9,200 Two-Year-Old Conditioned Claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired pacer fought hard all the way down the stretch to score the win in 1:55.4. Rockin Pet began from post six and was on the gate and ready to go when the wings opened. He left the gate but didn’t want the front end and got in behind Float Show and Brandon Bates seeking a spot near the front. Float Show went onto the lead and Rockin Pet was able to squeeze in behind Brutally Frank and Jordan Ross in the three hole. The first quarter was clocked in :28.4 with the field staying in single file through the half in :59.1. Brutally Frank tried to move out to press Float Show, but he picked up the pace around the final turn and continued to lead the way. The top two were more than three lengths ahead of Rockin Pet, who was saving ground along the inside. In the lane, Float Show began to come back to the rest of the field. Waldron was able to squeeze Rockin Pet between horses and got to the wire first in a three-way photo, winning by a neck over Dancin Differently and Cristian Pacheco, who closed on the outside for second. Brutally Frank was another neck back in third on the inside. Rockin Pet paid $5.00 for the win. The son of Pet Rock, and part of the sire’s first Indiana crop after a successful career in Ohio, is owned by W & W Farms and Ricky Macomber Jr., who also trains. John Miller bred and raised the gelding, who is now two for four in his brief career. Rockin Pet’s best career time was recorded in his previous outing in a time of 1:55.1 the week before. He was part of the Wittmer Standardbreds consignment last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was purchased for $5,000. He is the first foal of the Bettor’s Delight mare Persistant Xample, a winner in 1:53 with $117,000 on her card. She has a yearling filly this year by JK Endofanera named JKs Example. In the filly division of the conditioned claimer, it was two-year-old Loveme or Leaveme and Daryl Bontrager who earned the win, leading the field gate to wire in 1:55.3. The Best in Show filly paced home in :28.4 for the one and one-half length advantage over Tellmefirst and Travis Seekman. Blue Balou and John DeLong finished third. Loveme Or Leaveme paid $13.60 for the win. She is a homebred owned and bred by Ira Steinberg. It was the seventh start for the filly and her first career win.
Former Indiana Sired Fair Circuit contender Kitalpha added another win to her credentials Monday, August 17 in the $5,600 conditioned pace at Monticello Raceway. Guided by Michael Merton, the Indiana pacer scored the win in convincing fashion in 1:56.0. Kitalpha left the gate from post two and attempted to head to the lead, but Proudamericangirl and Ralph Silvestri III also left for the lead to her inside. Anne Bonney N and Bruce Aldrich Jr. rallied from the outside of Kitalpha and used a big surge to land on the front end followed by Proudamericangirl and Kitalpha. The opening quarter was paced in :27.4 before Anne Bonney N was able to back the tempo down to the half in :57.3. First of Her Name and Jim Taggart Jr. were the first to pull to the outside with Kitalpha also getting out to endure a first over journey the second half. Around the final turn, Kitalpha and Anne Bonney N were locked in a big battle before the stretch. Once they had straightened out, Kitalpha went right on by, winning by one and one-quarter lengths over Anne Bonney N, a New Zealand bred daughter of former Indiana stallion Net Ten EOM. Proudamericangirl finished third. Kitalpha paid $8.28 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus is owned by Clifford Grundy and trained by Tammy Sowers, who acquired the mare earlier this year. Alvin, Dessa, and Zach Miller bred the mare from their broodmare Pacific Sun Rae, who earned more than $323,000 during her racing career for the Miller barn and took a mark of 1:51.4. She has been a solid brood mare for them, producing six starters from seven foals of racing age, including three-year-old Sun Rae’s Triumph, who has already taken a mark of 1:53.3 this season. She also has a yearling filly by Southwind Ozzi named Ozzi Rae. The Monday win for Kitalpha was a new lifetime mark of 1:56.0. She now has 15 career wins from 64 career starts and boosted her bankroll to more than $61,000 with her latest win, one of eight on the year for her current connections. The Monday program at Monticello was capped off by another Indiana winner as Dash N Cache and Ralph Silvestri III scored a win in the $7,300 conditioned pace. A seven-year-old daughter of Aracache Hanover, Dash N Cache led the field gate to wire for the win in 1:55.0. KJ Becky and Jim Taggart Jr. finished a length and three-quarters back in second followed by Beantown Babe and Bruce Aldrich Jr. for third. Dash N Cache paid $2.12 as the favorite of the field. She is owned by Godinez Racing Stable and trained by Jose Godinez. It was her 16 th career win and her seventh of 2026. Her career best time of 1:51.4 was taken at Tioga Downs as a six-year-old and she now has a bankroll of $138,000.
ER Rocky and Marvin Luna used a late move to score the win Sunday, August 16 in the $5,700 conditioned pace, scoring the victory in a time of 1:51.2. The Indiana sired pacer bested a field of 10, including several fellow Indiana sired competitors. ER Rocky began from the far outside post and left the gate with some speed. However, he was caught up in a herd of horses trying the same strategy and was wide heading into the first turn, eventually finding a seat in the seven hole. At the front, Just Plain Loco and Jamaal Denson had settled in on the top, passing by the quarter in :26.4. As soon as the backstretch arrived, Indiana sired Isitlikeittell and Josh Sutton were out and on the move, sliding over to the top spot before the half in :55.0. Near the back of the pack Frozen Shark and Atlee Bender moved out first, and ER Rocky followed suit, hoping for a second over journey. But the move from Frozen Shark prompted others to the outside leaving ER Rocky fourth over led by Rollin Dice and Zyler Maxwell. The field was bunched up and moving as the stretch arrived. In the stretch, horses were spread out across the track and it was anyone’s race to win. ER Rocky was the widest of all and he never gave in, pacing home in :28.0 over the fast track for the win by one length. Isitlikeittell finished second over Rollin Dice. ER Rocky paid $8.08 for the win. The eight-year-old son of Aracache Hanover is owned by Trent Stohler Stable, Tim Graber, and John Grubich. Stohler trains the veteran pacer, who is a product of Don and Rosie Eash’s breeding operation in Indiana and from their foundation brood mare Rock Ann Rolling. ER Rocky now has 26 wins from 145 starts. His career best time of 1:49.2 was taken as a four-year-old. He has been with the Stohler barn the past year and a half and has won eight races for his connections. He is moving closer to the $300,000 mark in career earnings. Also a winner on the day at The Red Mile was Indiana freshman Era Dominance, who is dual eligible to Indiana and Kentucky. The JK Endofanera filly led gate to wire for Luna, pacing home in :25.3 for the win in 1:51.1. Nzinga and Yannick Gingras finished five and three-quarter lengths back in second followed by Shezaloadedbet and Dexter Dunn in the $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series, which is in its second leg. Era Dominance was the favorite of the field, paying $3.80. She is owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock. She is now undefeated in two starts and the mile was a career best. Only six races were completed at The Red Mile before heavy rains set in, canceling the remainder of the card. The remainder of the program was moved to Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Mile. The program will be held after the regularly scheduled racing card begins at 1 p.m.
One of the most highly anticipated championships in the Governor’s Cup series was the first to kick off the day Wednesday, August 19. Two-year-old filly pacers lined up behind the gate with a big matchup between Sassie Kassie and Bella Notte, both of which had only experienced one defeat all season. In addition to those two fillies, the field included Velmissfoxyshooter, the only one to defeat Sassie Kassie this year and has not been off the board this year in nine starts. In the end, it was Sassie Kassie who claimed the title in the $25,000 final and equaled the Governor’s Cup record in 1:55.0. Sassie Kassie began from post four for driver Kevin Lambright and used just enough early speed to grab the two hole behind Velmissfoxyshooter and Mike Peterson who fired out for the lead. Bella Notte and Joey Putnam got away in third as the field passed by the first quarter in :28.0. It didn’t take long for Lambright to pull the pocket and send Sassie Kassie to the lead, settled in on top before the half in :57.3. As the field disappeared behind the trees in the infield, Sassie Kassie was still in the lead and Bella Notte had pulled first over and was inching up. When the field came back in sight, Sassie Kassie had a three-length advantage on the rest of the fillies, and maintained that advantage into the lane. In the stretch, Sassie Kassie pinned her ears and was all business, traveling home in :29.0 to score the win by two lengths. Velmissfoxyshooter came back and finished well for second with GD Captain Win and Michael Detweiler rounding out the top three. Sassie Kassie is a freshman daughter of Capt Midnight. She is owned and trained by Kassandra Lambright and was acquired by the Lambrights this spring from breeder Freeman Bontrager of Topeka, Ind. It was the biggest paycheck of the young filly’s career, boosting her bankroll to more than $25,000 with the win. It was also her career best effort, which equaled the time posted by Northern Nightstar and Kyle Wilfong earlier in the day in the $10,000 Governor’s Cup Consolation for two-year-old filly pacers. Another contender who completed a stellar season in the Quest for the Governor’s Cup Championships was three-year-old pacing filly It Liz Again, driven by Mike Peterson. The Highalator filly sat patiently in the two hole before taking over at the head of the lane and pacing home for the five and three-quarter length win in 1:53.1. Rita’s Girl, who led the division by points and driven by Kevin Detweiler, finished second over Ambehaving and Kevin Lambright for third. It Liz Again is owned by Chris Choros and Therl Hensley. Gerald Miller trains the filly, who is a home bred for Choros. It was her third straight win and her fourth during the preliminary rounds of the Governor’s Cup Championship. It was also a new career best for the sophomore pacer as she moved her career bankroll over the $60,000 mark. The biggest surprise on the day came in the three-year-old trotting filly division. Precisely, driven by Kevin Detweiler, came into the Championship in the final spot, ranked eighth on the list of qualifiers for the championship. Other divisional winners in the Governors Cup Championships included JK Barbar (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding pacing action, Cool Manner (Kevin Detweiler) in the two-year-old filly trot, Hidden Talent (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding trotting action, Charging Thunder (Mike Peterson) in the three-year-old colt and gelding pacing division, Precisely (Kevin Detweiler) among three-year-old filly trotters, and Don’t Tell Anyone (Kevin Detweiler) in the final division for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The Helpisontheway filly sat in mid pack before pulling out and going three-wide in the final turn. As they field headed down the stretch, Precisely took over and held her ground from Canipilotall and Clint Coy to win by a half length in 1:58.0. Topville Ideal finished third. Precisely is owned by Twoforone Stable and trained by Robert Wyman. Oakwood Farms bred and raised the filly, who earned her third win of the season and her sixth overall. The mile was also a new lifetime mark for Precisely.
Photo of Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron by Dean Gillette Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron scored their second straight win Tuesday, August 18 in the $9,200 Two-Year-Old Conditioned Claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired pacer fought hard all the way down the stretch to score the win in 1:55.4. Rockin Pet began from post six and was on the gate and ready to go when the wings opened. He left the gate but didn’t want the front end and got in behind Float Show and Brandon Bates seeking a spot near the front. Float Show went onto the lead and Rockin Pet was able to squeeze in behind Brutally Frank and Jordan Ross in the three hole. The first quarter was clocked in :28.4 with the field staying in single file through the half in :59.1. Brutally Frank tried to move out to press Float Show, but he picked up the pace around the final turn and continued to lead the way. The top two were more than three lengths ahead of Rockin Pet, who was saving ground along the inside. In the lane, Float Show began to come back to the rest of the field. Waldron was able to squeeze Rockin Pet between horses and got to the wire first in a three-way photo, winning by a neck over Dancin Differently and Cristian Pacheco, who closed on the outside for second. Brutally Frank was another neck back in third on the inside. Rockin Pet paid $5.00 for the win. The son of Pet Rock, and part of the sire’s first Indiana crop after a successful career in Ohio, is owned by W & W Farms and Ricky Macomber Jr., who also trains. John Miller bred and raised the gelding, who is now two for four in his brief career. Rockin Pet’s best career time was recorded in his previous outing in a time of 1:55.1 the week before. He was part of the Wittmer Standardbreds consignment last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was purchased for $5,000. He is the first foal of the Bettor’s Delight mare Persistant Xample, a winner in 1:53 with $117,000 on her card. She has a yearling filly this year by JK Endofanera named JKs Example. In the filly division of the conditioned claimer, it was two-year-old Loveme or Leaveme and Daryl Bontrager who earned the win, leading the field gate to wire in 1:55.3. The Best in Show filly paced home in :28.4 for the one and one-half length advantage over Tellmefirst and Travis Seekman. Blue Balou and John DeLong finished third. Loveme Or Leaveme paid $13.60 for the win. She is a homebred owned and bred by Ira Steinberg. It was the seventh start for the filly and her first career win.
Former Indiana Sired Fair Circuit contender Kitalpha added another win to her credentials Monday, August 17 in the $5,600 conditioned pace at Monticello Raceway. Guided by Michael Merton, the Indiana pacer scored the win in convincing fashion in 1:56.0. Kitalpha left the gate from post two and attempted to head to the lead, but Proudamericangirl and Ralph Silvestri III also left for the lead to her inside. Anne Bonney N and Bruce Aldrich Jr. rallied from the outside of Kitalpha and used a big surge to land on the front end followed by Proudamericangirl and Kitalpha. The opening quarter was paced in :27.4 before Anne Bonney N was able to back the tempo down to the half in :57.3. First of Her Name and Jim Taggart Jr. were the first to pull to the outside with Kitalpha also getting out to endure a first over journey the second half. Around the final turn, Kitalpha and Anne Bonney N were locked in a big battle before the stretch. Once they had straightened out, Kitalpha went right on by, winning by one and one-quarter lengths over Anne Bonney N, a New Zealand bred daughter of former Indiana stallion Net Ten EOM. Proudamericangirl finished third. Kitalpha paid $8.28 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus is owned by Clifford Grundy and trained by Tammy Sowers, who acquired the mare earlier this year. Alvin, Dessa, and Zach Miller bred the mare from their broodmare Pacific Sun Rae, who earned more than $323,000 during her racing career for the Miller barn and took a mark of 1:51.4. She has been a solid brood mare for them, producing six starters from seven foals of racing age, including three-year-old Sun Rae’s Triumph, who has already taken a mark of 1:53.3 this season. She also has a yearling filly by Southwind Ozzi named Ozzi Rae. The Monday win for Kitalpha was a new lifetime mark of 1:56.0. She now has 15 career wins from 64 career starts and boosted her bankroll to more than $61,000 with her latest win, one of eight on the year for her current connections. The Monday program at Monticello was capped off by another Indiana winner as Dash N Cache and Ralph Silvestri III scored a win in the $7,300 conditioned pace. A seven-year-old daughter of Aracache Hanover, Dash N Cache led the field gate to wire for the win in 1:55.0. KJ Becky and Jim Taggart Jr. finished a length and three-quarters back in second followed by Beantown Babe and Bruce Aldrich Jr. for third. Dash N Cache paid $2.12 as the favorite of the field. She is owned by Godinez Racing Stable and trained by Jose Godinez. It was her 16 th career win and her seventh of 2026. Her career best time of 1:51.4 was taken at Tioga Downs as a six-year-old and she now has a bankroll of $138,000.
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