Gather Ye Rosebuds and Daryl Bontrager scored an impressive win in the first division of the Miss Windfall Series to kick off the Thursday, April 14 racing program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The series, one of the original ones from the 1990s, is in its second leg with the final set for next week.
Gather Ye Rosebuds and trainer-driver Daryl Bontrager rallied home to a new lifetime win in the second career start for the sophomore filly in a division of the Miss Windfall Series at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Thursday, April 14. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post two, Gather Ye Rosebuds had a pretty easy path to get to the lead, passing the quarter in :27.3. From there, the filly held onto the lead as JK Lady Star and LeWayne Miller rallied up to challenge on the outside at the half in :56.4. Gather Ye Rosebuds continued to lead the way through the three-quarters in 1:25.4 before rallying home in :28.4 to win by two and a half lengths over Victress’s Desire and Travis Seekman. Dash N Cache and Dale Hiteman closed well to finish third in the mile that was recorded in 1:54.3.
Gather Ye Rosebuds was the favorite of the field, paying $4.60 to win. Ira Steinberg of Illinois owns the three-year-old daughter of Luck Be Withyou. Bontrager also trains.
Gather Ye Rosebuds is now one for two in her brief career with the mile setting a new mark for the filly. She was unraced last year at two for Steinberg, who also bred the filly. Her dam, the Illinois bred mare A Real Doozie, earned $61,000 during her career and took a mark of 1:53.4. Gather Ye Rosebuds is her first foal. She also has a two-year-old gelding this season named Bible Thumper, also by Luck Be Withyou and a yearling colt named Evileye Fleegle, by Tellitlikeitis.
The other division of the Miss Windfall was won by Always Sugary, a repeat winner in the series for driver-trainer Dale Hiteman. The Always a Virgin filly sat third as The Moma Dance and John DeLong set the pace at :29.0, :58.2 and 1:29.0. Always Sugary was flushed out first over and rallied home in a quick :26.1 to score the win by one and one-half lengths in 1:5.1. Rockable Image and LeWayne Miller finished second over Pure Silky and Doug Rideout for third.
Always Sugary paid $6.60 for the win. DTM Stable owns the filly, who was bred by Karl Miller. She is now three for four in her career with her most recent win a new lifetime best. Always Sugary was also unraced last year as a two-year-old.