Indiana racing has lost some wonderful people this season, and Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s Director of Racing Scott Peine has done a good job to remember them with series named in their honor. One of those iconic figures was Ewell Binkley and the $14,000 final of the Ewell Binkley Memorial was held Thursday, Nov. 7 with a familiar name taking home the title.
Jesse Popper is shown with Alex Udell earlier this year on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. Photo by Dean Gillette
Jesse Popper, trained by Jack Myers and driven by Sam Widger, used a first over move to trot home under the wire as the winner by one-half length in 1:57.4. Sweet Swan of All and John DeLong followed Jesse Poppers lead to the front to finish second followed by Giddyupngogilmer and Matt Krueger to round out the three-horse photo finish.
Owned by Jack Myers Racing Stable, Jesse Popper earned his ninth win of the year in 24 starts. The best time for the Sing Jesse Sing three-year-old gelding is 1:55.0 taken at Hoosier Park in early September. With 13 career wins, Jesse Popper now has nearly $60,000 in purse earnings for the Jack Myers Racing Stable, which also owns the gelding.
Jesse Popper started off his three-year-old campaign at Harrah’s Hoosier Park before shifting over to the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC). There, he built up some confidence with four wins before taking top honors in the $20,000 ISFC Championships at the Indiana State Fair. Jesse Popper was also a winner in the Elite Trot at Portland before taking his career best time of 1:55.0 with regular driver Alex Udell in the bike.
Jesse Popper, Hip No. 123, is one of several horses from the Myers Stable that will be sold in the upcoming Midwest Mixed Sale Friday, Nov. 29. Myers is once again holding a partial dispersal of racehorses in the sale.
For a complete list of entrants in the Midwest Mixed Sale, go to midwestauctionco.com.