Elhelpski made his second career start a winning one, scoring the win in a division of the $67,500 Indiana Sires Stakes (ISS) Saturday, July 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The freshman trotter was guided to victory by Peter Wrenn following a fifth-place finish in the first round of the ISS earlier in July.
Peter Wrenn points toward the camera as Elhelpski trots home a winner in the second round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for freshman trotting colts and geldings. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post one, Elhelpski trotted away from the gate and got away in mid pack as Dashing Danny and Logan Loney rallied out to the lead. The duo went by the quarter in :28.2 by open lengths and continued their dominance to the half in :58.4. Elhelpski moved out and up at the half and was first over around the final turn and had Dashing Danny in his sights by the head of the lane.
In the stretch, Elhelpski kicked into another gear and rallied home in :27.3 to win by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. Dashing Danny finished second over Ira Who and Daryl Bontrager for third.
Elhelpski paid $12.40 for the win. The Helpisontheway gelding is owned by S & R Racing Stables, Bottom Line Racing LLC, Wrenn Racing, LLC. Melanie Wrenn trains the young trotter, who was bred by John Bontrager Jr.
Elhelpski sold as the 12th yearling through the sale ring last fall at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. He brought a price of $65,000 when secured by Wrenn Racing. He is the first foal of the mare Kelsey Hanover by Muscle Massive. She is a half sister to the standout trotting mare Aunt Mel, who earned nearly $300,000 during her career. The family includes a lot of black type winners through the third dam.
The second division of two-year-old trotting colts and geldings for the ISS was the final race of the night and the Wrenn Stable had another talented freshman in the mix. Flirtnwiththepilot went into the race as a winner of his only start and faced off with Flight Number One, who was three for three from the Missy Essig Stable. Both trotters are by the first crop sire Pilot Discretion, but it was a late rally by Gruesome Twosome and Daryl Bontrager who pulled in the win.
Gruesome Twosome got away in mid pack and was able to follow the lead of Flight Number One and John DeLong to the outside at the half. Race favorite Topville Sebastian set the tempo of the race.
Gruesome Twosome continued to follow his cover to the stretch and was widest of all as all several horses looked for racing room both inside and outside of Topville Sebastian and Joey Putnam. By the time the field had reached the tote board, Gruesome Twosome was in full flight on the outside, trotting by for the win in 1:56.1. Topville Sebastian finished second over Mel Gibswan and Brandon Bates for third.
Gruesome Twosome paid $68.60 for the win. The You Know You Do freshman earned his second win in his third start for Bontrager, who also trains. Bontrager co-owns the colt with Ira Steinberg.