One of the first two-year-old races of 2022 took place at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Thursday, June 16 with Coach Stefanos leading the way among the future stars of Indiana. Several Indiana sires were represented in the race, but it was Tellitlikeitis that finished one-two in the $10,000 event.
Coach Stefanos and Trace Tetrick made their racing debut an impressive one, winning one of the first two-year-old races of the season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Coach Stefanos and Trace Tetrick started from post eight and didn’t attempt an early move to the lead as ER Sonny and Don Eash moved out quickly from the inside with Jones Z Tam and Brandon Bates setting on the outside at the quarter in :28.0. Jones Z Tam then crossed over to lead at the half in :56.4 before Checkin In and Larry Plank moved first over to have a brief stint on the lead at the three-quarters in 1:27.0.
In the stretch Coach Stefanos tipped off cover and paced home impressively in :26.4 to score the comfortable win by more than three lengths. Wattastory and Alvin Miller came in off the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit to finish second over Topville Somebeach and Rick Plano for third. The time of the mile was 1:54.2.
Coach Stefanos was the favorite, paying $3.00 for the win. The Erv Miller trained gelding by Tellitlikeitis is owned by Kenneth Duffy, D & M Trading II, and John Stefanos. Victory Hill Farm bred the freshman, who was making his first career start. He was sold last fall at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $42,000 under the name Watch This Tell. The name was changed to represent co-owner John Stefanos, football coach in the Chicago.
Another maiden winner on the evening was Bluebird Venus from the Bill Beechy barn. Driven by Kevin Lambright, the Rockin Image filly sat in the two-hole the entire way behind ER Super Shady and Bradley Ferguson before going by in the stretch for the win in 1:52.3. Stonebridge Hypnos and Andy Shetler finished second over ER Super Shady.
Bluebird Venus paid $31.40 for the win. The sophomore pacer is owned by Beechy and Flying Manes LLC. Daryl Miller bred the filly, who was lightly raced last year at two and returned to win her first start in her fourth outing as a three-year-old. She is a full sister to the great Rockin Serena, who has a mark of 1:51.0 and more than $411,000. The family is now a 100 percent producing group with all five foals of racing age taking a mark of under 1:55. They have a two-year-old filly this season named Bluebird Graf by Always a Virgin.