Finish Strong and Bradley Ferguson did just that, finished strong in the $16,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Eligible event for sophomore trotting colts and geldings Saturday, Oct. 8. The duo earned the win in a time of 1:55.1, matching his previous best time taken earlier this year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Finish Strong and Bradley Ferguson return to the winner’s circle following their win at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Saturday, Oct. 8.
Finish Strong started strong from the gate but remained trotting in the center of the track to let everyone get settled before going to the lead, the position he got right before the quarter in :28.0. He continued the steady tempo and at the half, Swan Flyer made a bold move up on the outside, but Finish Strong continued to lead the way to the three-quarters in 1:25.2.
In the stretch, Finish Strong was kept focused by Ferguson on the finish line and was well in hand. Land of Freedom and Dale Hiteman made up ground late to finish one and one-quarter lengths back in second. Golden Elixir, who made a break before the start, came back to finish third for Joey Putnam.
Finish Strong was a longshot in the field, paying $40.60 for the win. The Text Me gelding is trained by Henry Lundsford and owned by Judy Lunsford. She also bred and raised the high stepping trotter.
Finish Strong was a winner two starts back. His win on the Saturday card was his fourth of 2022 after not winning a race as a two-year-old. He is now around the $50,000 mark in career earnings for the Lundsfords.
Another longshot came home first in the very next race. Flirtin Freddy, driven by Michael Oosting, got away at the back of the pack as Commentariat and John DeLong set the first fraction of :26.3 before Mike Mike and Kyle Wilfong took over at the half in :55.0. Flirtin Freddy pulled to the outside to begin his advancement toward the leaders and was on top at the head of the stretch. He began to pull away from the field in the $7,000 conditioned pace, winning by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:52.1. The Book of Life and Atlee Bender closed for second over RJ Rocks and LeWayne Miller for third.
Flirtin Freddy paid $35.20 for the win. The four-year-old son of Fred and Ginger is owned by Macomber Racing and trained by Jamie Macomber. James Stonecipher bred the gelding, who is out of the mare Mcflirty, who won several races in Indiana during her racing career. It was his second win in eight starts for 2022 and his fourth overall. He now has more than $50,000 on his card and the mile equaled his previous best time of 1:52.1, taken last year as a three-year-old.