Helpoftheseason and Peter Wrenn rallied home to score a win in a division of the Indiana Sires Stakes. The three-year-old trotting filly was a winner in one of two divisions with a purse of $50,000.
Helpoftheseason and Peter Wrenn move up the inside to score the second Indiana Sires Stakes leg over Naturdays Wed. June 14. Photo by Dean Gillette
Helpoftheseason was the quickest out of the gate on the inside with Naturdays and Matt Krueger used a big burst of speed from the outside to join Helpoftheseason into the first turn. Naturdays moved over to the lead after the quarter in :27.4 and led the way to the half in :57.2. Around the final turn, Flo Lashomb and Kyle Wilfong moved up to challenge on the outside, leaving the high stepping Helpoftheseason on the inside covered up.
Helpoftheseason stayed right on the back of Naturdays until the open stretch arrived. Wrenn guided his filly to the inside and she stretched out to get by Naturdays in the final strides for the win by one-half length in 1:55.1. Flo Lashomb got a little rough late in the race, but kept it together to finish a solid third.
Helpoftheseason paid $4.40 for the win. The Helpisontheway filly is owned by John Schmucker and Wrenn Racing. Melanie Wrenn trains the sophomore filly, who was bred by Ben Wittmer Jr. It was the second win of the season for Helpoftheseason in her third start of 2023. She won four of her seven starts last year at two and finished third in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final last fall. She earned a career best time of 1:53.4 in her last start at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. She has a full sister that is a two-year-old this season named Torches Help.
In the other division of trotting fillies, Swanya and John DeLong scored their second straight win in Indiana Sires Stakes action for trainer Missy Essig. The Swan for All filly retook the lead down the backstretch and fended off challengers at the wire for the win in 1:53.1. Yo Beth D and Trace Tetrick finished three-quarters of a length back in second over Stella Rose and Michael Oosting for third.
Swanya is now six for eight this season. She is owned by Jackie Beeman and was bred by Leonard Miller. With only one start last year at two, the sophomore filly has found her stride this season, lowering her career best time in her ISS win.