Trainer Jeff Edwards and Driver Brandon Bates teamed up with a couple of trotters to kick off the week of racing Wednesday, May 31 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Flat Out Foxy and Miss Americana represented the stable for wins on the night.
Flat Out Foxy and Brandon Bates was the first of two back to back winners for the Jeff Edwards Stable Wednesday, May 31. Photo by Dean Gillette
Flat Out Foxy and Bates kicked off the card in the $8,200 conditioned claiming event. Starting from the extreme outside post, they had to have a quick burst of speed from the start in their pursuit of the lead, grabbing the top spot just after the quarter in :27.4. Flat Out Foxy continued to lead the way by open lengths through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:27.0, grabbing a breather before the stretch drive.
In the stretch, Flat Out Foxy stayed strong, rallying home to the win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. T Woodley and Michael Oosting finished second over Shamrocks and Kyle Husted for third.
Flat Out Foxy was the favorite, paying $3.60 for the win. The four-year-old son of Whom Shall I Fear is owned by Denise Dennis and was bred by Nathaniel Yoder. It was the first win of 2023 for the gelding, who was making his second start of the year. Overall, he has four wins with his career best time remaining at 1:55.0, taken last year at three.
Joining Flat Out Foxy as a win for the Edwards Stable was stablemate Miss Americana, also vying for the win in the $6,500 conditioned claimer. Miss Americana started her journey from post six and got away third as Kate’s Girl and Joey Putnam set the tempo of :29.0 and :59.2 before Miss Americana moved to the outside to challenge. The sophomore filly made up some ground in the turn and flew right on by in the stretch, opening up to a two and one-half length lead in 1:59.0. Toms Nancy and LeWayne Miller finished second while Kate’s Girl held on for third.
Miss Americana was also the favorite, paying $2.20 for the win. The Swan for All three-year-old is owned by Denise Dennis with Dakota Isaacs. Dakota Isaacs is the co-breeder on the filly with Frances Wilson of Kentucky. She was also making her second start of 2023 and the win was her first career trip to the winner’s circle.
Another impressive trotting win came along a little later on the card as Ascent and Peter Wrenn scored a win in the $9,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eligible event in 1:55.2. Ascent got away in mid pack before using a power move at the half to take control and rally home for the win, just a half-length ahead of Majordancemoves and Robert Taylor. Double Class and Michael Oosting finished third.
Ascent paid $8.80 for the win. The three-year-old Swan for All gelding is owned by Wrenn Racing and trained by Melanie Wrenn. It was the first win of 2023 for the gelding, who earned a new lifetime mark in the event. Overall, he is three for 12 with $45,000 on his card for the Wrenn Stable.