Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings were in action for the fifth round of Indiana Sires Stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Thursday, Aug. 15 and the favorites didn’t disappoint. It’s a Herbie and Verlin Yoder had a perfectly timed move to score a win while Swandre The Giant returned from the Hambletonian to win his division with David Miller coming in to drive.
It’s A Herbie and Verlin Yoder, shown winning an Indiana Sires Stakes race last fall, earned their sixth win in seven starts in the fifth round of Indiana Sires Stakes action Thurs. Aug. 15. Photo by Dean Gillette
An outside post nine delayed It’s A Herbie’s quest for the front end as Smooth Aceleration and Ricky Macomber Jr. moved from the center of the track to score early fractions of :27.2. and :57.1. It’s a Herbie was out and moving before the three-quarter mile marker, making his first over journey a perfect path to the front. Trotting down the lane in :27.4, the Here Comes Herbie colt was a winner by one length over Swan on a Mission and John Delong and Sign Here N Here and Sam Widger. The time of 1:54.0 was a new career best time for It’s a Herbie, who has won six of his seven starts in 2019. Yoder also owns and trains the standout trotter, who now has in excess of $365,000.
Swandre the Giant was back in Indiana in the second division of Indiana Sires Stakes action. Miller took no chances and placed the Swan for All colt right on the front end, setting a similar tempo to the other division in :27.2, :57.3 and 1:27.1. before striding out and winning by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:54.0, a final panel in :26.4. Martini Show and Widger finished second over Wow Lester and Trace Tetrick for third.
Trained by Ron Burke, Swandre the Giant earned his second win in eight starts for 2019. He earned a career best time of 1:51.3 at The Meadowlands earlier this summer for owners Diamond Creek Racing, J & T Silva Stables LLC and Howard Taylor.