Coaches Corner and Derek Hooley racked up another win on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) Saturday, July 22 with a victory in the $11,200 Classic Pace at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen. The three-year-old gelding recorded the only mile of the day under the 2:00 time barrier, winning in 1:57.1.
The Goshen News, always providing superb coverage of harness racing at the Elkhart County Fair, got a great photo of the grandstand as Coaches Corner and Derek Hooley pass by. Photo by Goshen News
Coaches Corner had post two and moved out of the gate in pursuit of the lead but Attaboy Lloyd and Don Cincebox gained the early advantage, placing Coaches Corner on the outside at the quarter in :29.1 before he was able to move over to the lead. Coaches Corner set the half in :58.2 as the outer flow began to form and move up to challenge at the three-quarters in 1:28.4.
Coaches Corner then hit another gear and pulled away from his opponents, pacing home in :28.2 for the win in 1:57.1. Always a Way and LeWayne Miller finished three and one-quarter lengths back in second while Attaboy Lloyd finished third.
Coaches Corner is owned by Summit Pacing Acres LLC and trained by Byron Hooley. The sophomore son of Always a Virgin was bred by Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables. It was the seventh win of the season for Coaches Corner, who has almost equaled his bankroll from last year. His career best time of 1:52.3 was taken during the ISFC stop at Harrah’s Hoosier Park earlier this summer.
Coaches Corner was sold at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale under the name Hot Lava for $13,000. He is the first foal from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Carobbean Pacetry, who has a mark of 1:51.1 and nearly $400,000 on her card. Coaches Corner has a half sister named Arion Magic, who is a two-year-old this year, who has one qualifier at Harrah’s Hoosier Park for trainer Mike Hollenback.
In the filly division of the Classic Pace, Pretty N Sassy and LeWayne Miller picked up the hard fought win in the $10,900 event. The Tellitlikeitis filly moved first over at the half in 1:01.1 and continued to press the tempo at the three-quarters in 1:31.4. Pink Ruby and Walter Haynes Jr. were holding their own on the inside and fought all the way to the wire. Pretty n Sassy got the win by one-half length in 2:01.3 over Pink Ruby. Here We Go BB and Doug Rideout finished second.
Pretty N Sassy is owned by L & S Racing, Lester Racing and Jeff Jones. Jones bred the filly, who earned her second career race in the effort. Her career best time of 1:51.4 was taken at Harrah’s Hoosier Park earlier this month. Pretty N Sassy is from a near 100 percent producing family from Dragon Again mare Ready to Win, who earned more than $200,000 during her career and took a mark of 1:52.1. Pretty N Sassy is the quickest of the foals with Center of Hope having the most purse earnings of $56,000 on her card. The family has a two-year-old full brother to Pretty N Sassy named Tellitlikeiseeit. There is also a yearling this season named Already Sassy, a filly also by Tellitlikeitis.
The entire racing program was covered by the Goshen News, who always provides great coverage of racing at the fair. They provided several photos of the day, including the one with this story.