As Hollywood Dayton’s track announcer noted it was not the best of trips, but it was the best of results as the Indiana bred filly scored a win in the final race of the night Wednesday, Dec. 14. Driven by Josh Sutton, the filly endured a peculiar trip from start to finish and still prevailed for the win.
Hotshot Betsy and Josh Sutton proved to be much the best in their second straight win at Hollywood Dayton Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Starting from post four, Sutton opted not to leave with Hotshot Betsy, but so did two of three horses to her inside, leaving her parked around the first turn early. Rocknpoppy B and Alex Hawk took advantage of their post one position and led the field to the quarter in :29.0 with Hotshot Betsy, tagged as the heavy favorite in the field, sitting to their outside and making a move toward the lead to take over. However, moving into the clubhouse turn, Hotshot Betsy veered out and Whooptiedoolucylou and Kayne Kauffman shot out between her and RocknPoppy B pushing Hotshot Betsy three wide around the turn and past the half in :58.2.
Down the backstretch, Hey Delilah and Mitchell Cushing chose to move three wide and locked Hotshot Betsy in among horses with no room. Sutton had to take a big hold of Hotshot Betsy and move her three wide once again behind Hey Delilah around the final turn.
At the head of the stretch, Hotshot Betsy was six wide and had a lot of horses to pass. One by one she was able to get by and get to the lead. Cruisin Flower and Tyler Smith made a strong surge on the outside at the end to also challenge, but Hotshot Betsy prevailed for the win in 1:58.1, a final panel in :29.4. Hope Im an Icon and Austin Hanners held their ground inside to finish second over Hey Delilah who finished third.
Hotshot Betsy paid $2.40 for the win. The Luck Be Withyou three-year-old is a homebred owned by Doug and Donna Geesaman. The filly is trained by Doug Geesaman.
Hotshot Betsy began her career on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, only winning one race as a two-year-old. She blossomed this year and finished in the top three 19 of 28 times with eight wins. Her career best time was taken at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the ISFC Second Chance series in 1:55.4, which was part of a five-race win streak that led her to the victory in the Second Chance Final at Converse in early October.
Hotshot Betsy then raced at Harrah’s Hoosier Park before switching to Dayton in December. So far in three starts, she has had a second and two wins with Sutton in the bike for all three starts. Her career earnings are now over the $50,000 mark. She is one of four foals from the Pro Bono Best mare Crown Lady, who had a mark of 1:51.0 and made more than $268,000. She is a half sister to Sand Sniper, who has a mark of 1:51.4 with $100,000 on his card and a half sister to DD’s Big Joe, who has a mark of 1:50.2 and more than $94,000. Both horses are still racing and all four foals have raced. Crown Lady was acquired by the Geesamans for the latter part of her racing career before moving to the brood mare ranks.