Photo by Dean Gillette Aces and Cinches and Daryl Bontrager rallied home like a boss Saturday, May 9 in the $10,000 conditioned pace at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Once they were clear, they coasted under the wire for the mild upset win in 1:52.2. Aces and Cinches began from post one and used some early speed, but could not match the quick foot of Mellow Fellow, who went straight out to the lead. In another few strides, here came Underwriter and Kyle Wilfong with a big move from the outside to take over before the quarter in :27.3. They were able to back the pace down to the half in :56.4 and Aces and Cinches stayed in as long as he could before being flushed to the outside first over heading into the final turn. That was the cue Aces and Cinches needed. He powered up and around Underwriter and was on top of the field by four when the field swung into the stretch. Aces and Cinches was on cruise control as he distanced himself from his opponents. Albany Blue Chip and Trace Tetrick closed with a big rush down the lane and appeared to have second before Mellow Fellow and Jared Finn came back between horses on the inside and picked up second by a nose over Albany Blue Chip. Aces and Cinches was a winner by two and one-half lengths in the 1:52.2 mile. Aces and Cinches paid $12.00 for the win. The sophomore son of Odds on Equuleus is owned by Ira Steinberg and Bontrager. Alpine Stables bred and raised the colt, who is out of the mare Gypsy Bellevue. The breeding might look familiar as Aces and Cinches is a half brother to the great Sabonis, a winner in 1:47.3 with more than $800,000 on his card. The family has a yearling filly this year by Best in Show cleverly named Caitlin Clerk. Aces and Cinches sold at the Midwest Classic Mixed Sale in Shipshewana as a yearling under the name Atta Boy Blue. Steinberg and Bontrager purchased him for $33,000. He was one of eight sold from Odds on Equuleus that season at the yearling sales and he’s the same age as world champion Odds on Mr Mamba, who won his qualifier again earlier in the day at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in preparation for his return to racing in 2026. Also a winner on the night was Kountry Carrots, a four-year-old daughter of Better Joy N. Guided by Atlee Bender, the Capt Midnight mare was out twice seeking the top spot before coming back again in the lane and grabbing the win by a nose over Babe’s Darla at the wire in 1:54.3. Boujeeful and John DeLong finished third. Kountry Carrots paid $5.60 for the win. She is owned by the Erv Miller Stable and Levi Bontrager. Kountry Lane Standardbred bred and raised her. This was her first win of 2026 after winning six last year as a two-year-old. Like Aces and Cinches, Kountry Carrots is royally bred. She is the daughter of Bettor Joy N, a winner in 1:50.1 with more than a half million on her card. She is the first foal from the Bettor’s Delight mare, who has also produced Kountry Blue a winner last year at two in 1:53.1. The family has a two-year-old this season named Kountry Tillie by Captaintreacherous and a yearling this year by Rockroad Hanover, a colt named I’m In A Hurry.

Tookadiveoffdipper and Atlee Bender launched a big final half in the $13,000 conditioned pace Monday, May 11 at Oak Grove. The Indiana duo defeated another Indiana duo for the win in 1:53.0. Tookadiveoffdipper began from post five, just on the outside of Ponda Eagle and Marcus Miller. Both Indiana sired horses showed the best early speed and moved out as the first two names heard. Mankat and Geremy Bobbitt held their ground inside and took the top spot with Ponda Eagle on the outside. Tookadiveoffdipper slipped into the three hole around the first turn. Heading past the quarter, Ponda Eagle took over and was on the lead after the quarter in :27.2. The pace of the race stayed pretty even to the half in :55.4 before outside action was detected. Rockin Ella Mae and Zyler Maxwell led the outer flow which prompted Tookadiveoffdipper to the outside heading into the final turn. The old timer powered up and was matching his younger Indiana opponent stride for stride at the head of the lane. With his earplugs out, Tookadiveoffdipper was able to grind his way home to win by a half length over Ponda Eagle. Mankat rounded out the top three. Tookadiveoffdipper paid $4.24 for the win. The now 12-year-old gelding is owned by Jane Cross and has been under her ownership in some form or fashion since his three-year-old season. The Always a Virgin gelding now has 59 wins and more than $746,000 in earnings. He has 265 starts from nearly every state that races east of the Mississippi. His best time of 1:49.2 was taken as a four-year-old at Dayton Raceway. Jim Eaton trains Tookadiveoffdipper, who has three wins in 2026. Eaton had an earlier winner also at Oak Grove Monday, another Indiana sired product. Rockin Pulse, driven by Wyatt Avenatti, was parked the entire mile near the back and still came charging home, winning by a neck over Wide Thinking at Joey Putnam. The seven-year-old Rockin Image gelding paced home in :27.1 for the win in 1:56.2. Seriously Feared and Brandon Bates finished third. Rockin Pulse paid $4.58 for the win. He is owned by Mary Van Boven of Michigan. It was his first win of 2026 and his 17 th overall. Rockin Pulse is a product of Rockstar Meadows of Spencerville, Ind. Van Boven has been part of his ownership his entire career.

Photo by Dean Gillette Aces and Cinches and Daryl Bontrager rallied home like a boss Saturday, May 9 in the $10,000 conditioned pace at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Once they were clear, they coasted under the wire for the mild upset win in 1:52.2. Aces and Cinches began from post one and used some early speed, but could not match the quick foot of Mellow Fellow, who went straight out to the lead. In another few strides, here came Underwriter and Kyle Wilfong with a big move from the outside to take over before the quarter in :27.3. They were able to back the pace down to the half in :56.4 and Aces and Cinches stayed in as long as he could before being flushed to the outside first over heading into the final turn. That was the cue Aces and Cinches needed. He powered up and around Underwriter and was on top of the field by four when the field swung into the stretch. Aces and Cinches was on cruise control as he distanced himself from his opponents. Albany Blue Chip and Trace Tetrick closed with a big rush down the lane and appeared to have second before Mellow Fellow and Jared Finn came back between horses on the inside and picked up second by a nose over Albany Blue Chip. Aces and Cinches was a winner by two and one-half lengths in the 1:52.2 mile. Aces and Cinches paid $12.00 for the win. The sophomore son of Odds on Equuleus is owned by Ira Steinberg and Bontrager. Alpine Stables bred and raised the colt, who is out of the mare Gypsy Bellevue. The breeding might look familiar as Aces and Cinches is a half brother to the great Sabonis, a winner in 1:47.3 with more than $800,000 on his card. The family has a yearling filly this year by Best in Show cleverly named Caitlin Clerk. Aces and Cinches sold at the Midwest Classic Mixed Sale in Shipshewana as a yearling under the name Atta Boy Blue. Steinberg and Bontrager purchased him for $33,000. He was one of eight sold from Odds on Equuleus that season at the yearling sales and he’s the same age as world champion Odds on Mr Mamba, who won his qualifier again earlier in the day at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in preparation for his return to racing in 2026. Also a winner on the night was Kountry Carrots, a four-year-old daughter of Better Joy N. Guided by Atlee Bender, the Capt Midnight mare was out twice seeking the top spot before coming back again in the lane and grabbing the win by a nose over Babe’s Darla at the wire in 1:54.3. Boujeeful and John DeLong finished third. Kountry Carrots paid $5.60 for the win. She is owned by the Erv Miller Stable and Levi Bontrager. Kountry Lane Standardbred bred and raised her. This was her first win of 2026 after winning six last year as a two-year-old. Like Aces and Cinches, Kountry Carrots is royally bred. She is the daughter of Bettor Joy N, a winner in 1:50.1 with more than a half million on her card. She is the first foal from the Bettor’s Delight mare, who has also produced Kountry Blue a winner last year at two in 1:53.1. The family has a two-year-old this season named Kountry Tillie by Captaintreacherous and a yearling this year by Rockroad Hanover, a colt named I’m In A Hurry.