Any winner is great, but surprise winners are the best, especially when the big money is on the line. That is exactly what the connections of It’s Time for Fun experienced during the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old fillies Friday, Oct. 12 at Hoosier Park.
Dean Gillette captured the moments before It’s Time for Fun and Kyle Wilfong crossed the wire as winners in the $220,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final Friday, Oct. 12. (Photo by Dean Gillette)
It’s Time for Fun and driver Kyle Wilfong came rolling down the stretch with their sights set on the leader, Always Woggy and David Miller. However, they also knew they had to fend off the race favorite, Voom or Bang and John DeLong, who were right at their heels. With challenges both in front and behind them, It’s Time for Fun stepped up to meet the obstacles head on, fending off Voom or Bang and nabbing the lead from Always Woggy at the same time for the victory in 1:54.0. A final panel of :28.2 brought the win home for the Brett Wilfong-trained sophomore, who is owned by Lynn
Nicole Agosti snapped this photo of It’s Time for Fun donning her Indiana Sires Stakes blanket following her win on Hoosier Champions Night at Hoosier Park. (Photo by Nicole Agosti)
Wilfong.
It’s Time for Fun rewarded those who had faith in her with a big payout across the board of $24.40, $6.80 and $3.80. The Skydancer Hanover filly earned her sixth win of 2018 in 19 starts and moved the earnings tally to just under $200,000 for the season. Her mile of 1:51.3 in September at Hoosier Park remains as her career best time.
It’s Time for Fun is cared for by loyal groom for the Wilfong Stable, Nicole Agosti, who was recently honored at The Red Mile with the Caretaker Appreciation Award. A native of Buffalo, New York, Agosti was one of seven finalists nominated for the award, which was sponsored by TheStable.ca. The 27-year-old received a framed award certificate, a $50 gift card to Texas Roadhouse, a $25 gift card to Big Dee’s Tack Shop and a one year subscription to Hoof Beats along with some swag from the U.S. Trotting Association. Agosti is frequently seen in Hoosier Park’s paddock preparing horses for their races, including It’s Time for Fun.
Agosti, who grew up around horses, was the recent subject of a story provided by the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association’s Nicolle Neulist, and had this to say about working with horses and recently receiving her trainer’s license:
“I absolutely love grooming, and I absolutely love working for Brett [Wilfong]. I never took my test thinking I was going to train full-time. If Kyle [Wilfong] and I wanted to buy a horse and race, it was more so I could have some fun with it.”
Agosti recorded her first training in August with Red Red Redneck at Hawthorne Racecourse.