It was a big night in the sports world Friday, Sept. 23. Albert Pujols hit his 700th homer, Roger Federer played his last match, and Bulldog Hanover stunned the world with a 1:46.3 clocking at Harrahs Hoosier Park during Caesars Trotting Classic. The card was filled with big races and brought outside talent in, but one Indiana sired sophomore held his own. Soaring Now, driven by Joey Putnam, was a winner in the $140,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy with the third quickest mile of the night behind Bulldog Hanover in 1:49.2.
Soaring Now and Joey Putnam fly across the wire for the win in the Jenna’s Beach Boy Stakes Friday, Sept. 23 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Soaring Now had drawn post five against the outside contenders but wasn’t phased by the newcomers and went straight to the lead, posting the first fraction in :26.0. Rip Wheeler, another Indiana sired horse, moved to the lead for Brandon Bates and then Soaring Now was back out to take over at the half in :54.3, tracked closely by Mad Max Hanover and Tim Tetrick.
Around the final turn, Mad Max Hanover continued to apply pressure from the outside but Soaring Now was strong, opening up to a three-length advantage in the stretch. As the wire neared, Mad Max Hanover made another move to unseat Soaring Now but he couldn’t get by him with Soaring Now posting the win by one and one-half lengths. Mad Max Hanover was a solid second over Rip Wheeler.
Soaring Now was the favorite of the field, paying $3.00 for the win. Aaron Stutzman trains the JK Endofanera sophomore for James Miller of Kentucky. Luckiana Farm bred the colt, who has a career best time of 1:48.1 and more than $329,000 in earnings. Soaring Now was a bargain through the sales ring at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Miller purchased him for $6,000.
The only other mile on the big event night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park that dipped under the 1:50 time barrier was the $40,000 Carl Becker Memorial Open Pace. Warrawee Vital and Trevor Henry score the gate to wire win in 1:49.1 with a final panel in :25.4. Let it Ride N and Dexter Dunn finished second over Later Dudes and Chris Page, who finished a half-length ahead of Indiana sired Little Rocket Man and John DeLong for third.
Warrawee Vital paid $2.60 for the win. The five-year-old Captaintreacherous horse is trained by Robert Fellows for Blair Corbeil, Yolanda Fellows and M & S Racing Stable, Inc. all of Canada. Warrawee Farm bred Warrawee Vital.