Belikethis and Brandon Bates rallied home to an open length win as an upset winner in the $10,000 two-year-old filly race Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The freshman filly scored the win in 1:55.1.
Belikethat and Brandon Bates cruise to victory for their first win Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Belikethis began her journey from the second tier in post 10 and watched Lost by the Beach and Ricky Macomber Jr. move out for the lead, followed closely by Decision Time and Cordarius Stewart, who tucked in behind the leader in second. They passed the quarter in :28.3 as Belikethis moved to the outside and went right to the lead, posting the half in :58.2. Belikethis continued to lead the way around the final turn and was primed and ready for a big stretch drive finish.
Belikethis opened up on the field by more than four lengths. Decision Time had been shuffled back but found racing room and made a big push to get to Belikethis. But Belikethis was strong through the wire, winning by two and one-quarter lengths, a final quarter in :27.1. Decision Time finished second over Lost By The Beach for third.
Belikethis was overlooked at the windows, paying $17.80 for the win. Decision Time nearly paid as much for the place spot at $17.00 to make the tote board light up with big payoffs, including an $18,000-plus exacta. The Tellitlikeitis filly is owned by John Barnard, Therese DeFabis, Dolne Farm Services and Mark P’Pool. P’Pool also trains the filly, who hails from the Slabach Brothers breeding operation.
Belikethis was making her sixth career start. After hitting the board for a pair of third place finishes, the filly now has more than $10,000 on her card. She was a recent purchase by her current connections. Barnard bought her last fall at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $70,000 and retained a percentage of her in the sale prior to her racing debut. The family is a fairly new breeding line from the mare, Brown Magic Woman, who now has two foals of racing age and two winners. The Yankee Cruiser mare also has a yearling colt by JK Endofanera named Betterlikethis and a weanling colt by Rockin Image named Brown Magic.
Later in the night, two-year-old trotting fillies were in action in two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes action and the Miller Stable came away with both wins. Guided by LeWayne Miller, Skyway Paige was near the front end the entire way to win by two lengths in 1:55.3 while Crystal Swan was a bit of an upset, rallying home on the outside to win by a neck in 1:55.4. Both fillies are trained by LeWayne’s wife, Susan and both fillies, by Swan for All, earned new lifetime marks in the fourth round of the series.
Skyway Paige is owned by Hoosier Standardbred Farm, Ryan Raber, L & S Racing, and Anthony Swartzentruber. Kenneth Slabach bred the filly. Crystal Swan is owned by First Chance Stable, Platinum Stables, David Postman, and Ryan Raber, Ben Graber bred the filly.