Crecia looked the part in the $15,000 Harrah’s Gulf Coast Final Friday, Dec. 9 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired filly dug in gamely for the win in 2:01.2 with trainer-driver Jacob Fox at the controls.
Crecia and Jacob Fox return to the winner’s circle following their hard-fought victory in the Harrah’s Gulf Coast Friday, Dec. 9 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Crecia began her mile with turmoil all around her. Horses on each side of her went off stride but she never missed a beat, trotting out to settle in fourth place for a few steps as Graceful Lilly and Sam Widger established the tempo at the quarter in :29.2. Crecia didn’t take long to step up the momentum and move directly to the lead, crossing over before the half in a leisurely 1:01.1. From there, Crecia controlled the race as Fashion Baby and Trace Tetrick moved up first over for the stretch drive. The other threat came from Graceful Lilly, who was awaiting the passing lane.
In the stretch Crecia dug in gamely, trotting home in :28.3 to fend off a late attack from Fashion Baby, who moved up late for the challenge but came up a head short for the win. Jailhouse Yankee and Clay Craib finished third.
Crecia paid $23.20 for the win. The sophomore daughter of Crescent Fashion is owned by Matthew Miller, Jared Yoder and LaWayne Yoder all of Indiana. Luckiana Farm bred the filly, who finished out her Indiana season with three wins. Her best time of 1:58.3 was taken as a two-year-old at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in a time of 1:58.3.
Crecia was purchased from the first crop of Crescent Fashion under the name Now is the Time. She brought $7,000 through the ring at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale and was campaigned by the Doug Rideout Stable, competing mainly on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit before joining the Fox Stable in mid-June. She continued on the ISFC for her new connections and finished third in the Fall Final at Converse.
Crecia is the second foal from the Cash Hall mare Nowerland Firebird, who took a mark of 1:56.1 and earned more than $250,000 during her racing career. She is a full sister to the two-year-old filly this season named Now Wish Me Luck, who took a mark of 1:59.0 and earned $10,000. The family has a yearling filly by Dover Dan named Never Miss a Check who brought $15,000 at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. The family also has a weanling filly by Dover Dan named Need Cash Now that will be ready for the sales next year.
Also a winner on the Friday card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park was Crooked Smile from the Tim Wilson Jr. Stable. The five-year-old son of Panther Hanover rallied gate to wire for driver John DeLong in the win. The duo stopped the timer in 1:52.0 with a final panel in :27 seconds. Groovy Joe and Trace Tetrick finished second over Rogers Image and Joey Putnam for third.
Crooked Smile is owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Turn for Home Racing. Ellis Bryant bred the gelding, who earned his 20th career victory in the effort. He now has more than $247,000 in earnings and took a mark of 1:49.2 earlier this year at Oak Grove, matching his career best time taken last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park when he was a four-year-old.