A total of 107 two and three-year-olds were included on the first program of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) Saturday, July 4 at the Converse Fairgrounds. The program marked the first time for spectators at horse racing in the state of Indiana at both the pari-mutuel level and the county fair circuit.
Several two-year-olds were making their first career starts with Always My Girl and Joey Putnam winning the very first race. The wire to wire performance for the two-year-old Always a Virgin filly was recorded in a time of 2:02.0. Rollonbeauty and Clifton Bell finished a length back in second over Meadowbrook Lady and Rocky Loney for third.
Always My Girl is owned and trained by Mitchell Harris of Mississippi. The filly was bred by Victory Hill Farm.
Putnam also connected for a win in the third division of freshman pacing fillies with Sleazy Rolls for the Justin White Stable. The Time to Roll filly, owned by Eleven Star Stables, sat near the back of the pack before making a late move to close in :29 seconds flat for the win in 2:04.3. Vel Keep Rolling and Mike Peterson finished a neck back in second followed by Ae Springs and Matthew Riggle.
Always a Virgin had a big day among the freshman heats. The popular Indiana sire had five winners in 13 races for the two-year-olds.
Quality in Motion and Doug Rideout fend off a challenge by Slick N Sassy and Joey Putnam in three-year-old trotting filly action at Converse Saturday, July 4. Photo by Dean Gillette
Later in the card three-year-old trotting fillies took to the track with Quality in Motion and Doug Rideout reeled in a gate to wire win in 2:01.2. The Jailhouse Jesse filly was two lengths ahead of Slick N Sassy and Joey Putnam followed by Whom Shall I Love and Don Eash.
Quality in Motion is owned by Julie Rideout, Dr. Alan White and Dave Gamble. Doug Rideout serves as the trainer and driver. It was a new career best time for Quality in Motion, who has three starts to her credit this year. Last season at two, she won three of her seven starts with two second place finishes added in.
Action for the ISFC continues Sunday at Converse with 14 races on the program. First post is 2:00 p.m. and the card features two-year-old trotters as well as three-year-old pacers.