Fresh off the heels of the first foal to score a win by Freaky Feet Pete at the Kentucky fairs, the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) produced the first female winner during the opening round of action Thursday, June 1 at the Converse Fairgrounds. Petredame from the James Yoder barn won her division of the two-year-old ISFC, the second race on the card. There were 13 divisions total of two year old pacers with seven foals by Freaky Feet Pete making their debut. Yoder also had a colt by Freaky Feet Pete as a winner later on in the card.
Petradame and James Yoder are greeted in the winner’s circle by co-owner Cheyenne Yoder following their win in their racing debut Thursday, June 1 at the Converse Fairgrounds.
Petredame started from post three and eased over into fourth as another filly by Freaky Feet Pete, Freaky Sweet Pete, rolled out to a big lead early for Michael Detweiler, heading to the quarter in :34.0. Petredame made a big move before the half to take control in 1:07.2 before Vel Lets Rocknroll and Jay Cross were the first to emerge on the outside and form the outer flow past the three-quarters in 1:37.1.
Around the final turn, Vel Lets Rocknroll matched Petredame and put up a good fight to overtake the leader, but Petredame found another gear, sprinting home in :30.4 for the win in 2:08.0. Vel Loss of Words and first-time ISFC driver AJ Wright closed in gamely to finish a half length back in second followed by Vel Lets Rocknroll for third.
Petredame is owned by Cheyenne and James Yoder. The filly was purchased from Alvin Fry last fall at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $5,000. She was one of 28 sold by the first crop sire at the yearling sales last fall with Feet First Pete, selling by the name of Ponda Pete, fetching the highest price of $92,000. The colt is a half brother to Ponda Warrior, who has a mark of 1:49.1 and nearly $500,000 in earnings.
On the colt side, James Yoder also had a successful trip with Where’s Drogon. The son of Freaky Feet Pete sat patiently in second behind Vel Trust in Time and Brad Ferguson past the half in 1:02.0 before moving out and around and drawing away from the field, winning by 15 lengths in 1:59.0. He paced his final quarter in :28.0. Lost Up Creek and Mark Herschberger finished second over Tell’s Super Star and Jay Cross finished third. It was the only mile of the day that dipped below the 2:00 mark for both two-year-old pacers and three-year-old trotters.
Where’s Drogon is also owned by Cheyenne and James Yoder. Ray Kuhns is the breeder on the colt. Where’s Drogon, who sold at the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale, was purchased for $11,000 by the Yoder Stable last fall.
Designated Freak became the first foal by Freaky Feet Pete to win a race May 27 at Lebanon, Ky. in KY Preferred Stakes action for trainer-driver Verlin Yoder. The colt earned the win in 2:01.3 by three-quarters of a length in his racing debut. He was also purchased from the Hoosier Classic Sale for a price tag of $6,000.
In three-year-old trotting ranks, two races were timed in 2:00.2 for the fastest trots of the day as Sea Surfer and Clint Coy and Prince Henry and Michael Detweiler each won their respective divisions in 2:00.2. Sea Surfer, competing in the sophomore filly ranks, led gate to wire in her win by two lengths over Swartz Bros Donna and Mike Peterson. That’s All You and Walter Haynes Jr. finished third.
Sea Surfer is owned by Twoforone Stable and is trained by Matthew Miller. The You Know You Do filly earned her first win of 2023 after winning four last year on the ISFC.
Prince Henry picked up where he left off last year with a win for owner Vernon Oakerson. The Musclesprinctonian gelding led gate to wire in his win by one length over Closed Deal and Mike Peterson. Mr Knowitall and Doug Rideout finished third.
Prince Henry, a homebred, also scored his first win of the year. He had three wins last year on the ISFC.
Racing continues at the Converse Fairgrounds Friday, June 2 featuring two-year-old trotters and three-year-old pacers in the ISFC. Rick Uppal serves as track announcer with Mike Titus handling the starting duties in the gate. First post is 4 p.m.