It was a night of longshots at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Wednesday, Aug. 31 with eight of the first 11 races won by horses paying more than $20. Leading the charge in the longshot category was Help Page and Matt Krueger in the first of two divisions of two-year-old colt and gelding trotters in Indiana Sires Stakes action.
Help Page and Matt Krueger came up the inside for the upset win in the first division of Indiana Sires Stakes action Wed. Aug. 31 for two-year-old colts and geldings at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post one, Help Page slipped out from the gate and got away third as Empire Builder and Brandon Bates got the top spot early and Texsong Soprano, the division’s leading point getter, heading to the lead for John DeLong. Texsong Soprano got the lead just after the quarter in :28.1 and sat comfortably on the lead through the half in :57.0 and three-quarters in 1:27.0.
At the top of the stretch, horses were fanned out across the track with Every Day Dan and Robert Taylor leading the outer flow toward the leaders. Help Page ducked to the inside to advance on Texsong Soprano. Ascent and Peter Wrenn also ducked inside to try to advance against the competition. As the finish line neared, there were five horses across the track and Help Page got the win by a half length over Texsong Soprano. Ascent grabbed the third place spot in the photo.
Help Page paid $70.40 for the win. It was another win for first crop sire Helpisontheway, who swept the freshman trotting filly divisions for Indiana Sires Stakes the night before. Help Page is trained by Roger Welch for owners Harmony Oaks Racing Stable, James Crawford IV and Rich Preziotti. Daniel Lengacher bred the gelding, who broke his maiden in the 1:56.1 mile. He now has $64,000 on his card with seven starts so far. He was one of 58 foals that sold at public auction in the first crop by Helpisontheway. Help Page brought $20,000 through the sales ring at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale.
The other division of freshman trotting colts and geldings was just as exciting in Indiana Sires Stakes. Brookview Darius and Atlee Bender left the gate from post eight in search of the lead and was able to get a short time on the lead just after the quarter in :58.4. After fending off Cincinnati Help and James Yoder at the half in :58.4, he was shuffled back to third at the three-quarters in 1:28.2 with Talent Scout and Trace Tetrick first up on the outside.
In the stretch Brookview Darius found the racing room he needed along the inside and trotted up to take over the lead. Talent Scout was right there to also advance with Jailhouse Dance closing in quickly for Michael Oosting on the far outside. In the end, Brookview Darius got the win over Talent Scout and Jailhouse Dance in the mile clocked in 1:57.1.
Brookview Darius paid $26.80 for the win. The Swan for All gelding trained by Erv Miller is owned by The Kales Company LLC, Engel Stable of IL, and Louis Willinger. Brookview Farms bred the freshman, who brought $105,000 as a yearling in the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. He is the full brother to the standout trotter Brookview Bolt, who took a mark of 1:53.1 last year as a three-year-old and has more than $436,000 in earnings. Brookview Darius is now two for six and has been a winner in his last two starts.