Always Gonna B You and John DeLong turned in an impressive performance in the first of two divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers Thursday, Sept. 16. The duo crossed the finish line in 1:51.2, a new career best time.
Always Gonna B You and John DeLong were upset winners in a brisk 1:51.2 during the first division of Indiana Sires Stakes action for two-year-old pacing fillies Thursday, Sept. 16. Photo by Dean Gillette
Trained by Jeff Cullipher, Always Gonna B You started her race from post two and used that to her advantage, grabbing the two hole behind race leader JK’s Rollin Baby and Trace Tetrick. Fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:24.2 were placed on the board before DeLong moved Always Gonna Be You out to challenge.
Once they found a lane, Always Gonna B You was in full stride, turning in a final panel in :26.3 for the win by three and one-half lengths. JK’s Rollin Baby finished second over Alloutblitz and Sam Widger for third.
A longshot in the field, Always Gonna B You paid $44.60 for the win. The Always a Virgin filly is owned by Roll the Dice Stable of Delaware and Val D’Or Farms of New Jersey. She was a homebred by Roll the Dice Stable. It was the second win for the freshman, who moved her career bankroll to more than $69,000 with the victory. She has been well traveled this season, beginning her career at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey under the direction of trainer Joe Holloway. Her first start was at The Meadowlands and then onto Harrah’s Philadelphia before joining Cullipher at Hoosier Park. She also finished fifth at The Red Mile in the $40,000 Kentucky Championship Series.
The winner of the other division of ISS action for freshman pacing fillies was won by Goo Goo Won and LeWayne Miller. The Fred and Ginger filly pursued the top spot early on, getting the advantage after the quarter in :28.0. From there, she kept open lengths between her and the field before rallying home in the stretch to fend off JJ Endofanera and John DeLong for the win by a neck in 1:53.4. Lorraine Smoke and James Yoder finished third.
Goo Goo Won paid $13.60 for the win. She is owned by H and M Taylor Stable and Judith Taylor of Pennsylvania and trained by Dylan Davis. The Taylor family also bred the filly, who is now two for six this season. Her career best time of 1:52.2 was taken earlier this month at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.