M-M’s Tony and driver LeWayne Miller earned their first win of 2023 Friday, May 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The sophomore pacer turned in a record time in the series that was one of the first installed in pari-mutuel racing in Indiana in the late 1990s.
M-M’s Tony and LeWayne Miller score their first win of 2023 and take a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1 in the process in the Hal Dale Series at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
M-M’s Tony got away in second as Crown Hanover and Trace Tetrick caught the top spot, posting early fractions of :27.2 and :55.4. The second set of opponents began to form for the second half of the race led by Governor JK and Don Eash. But the charge didn’t challenge the top two as they continued to hold on to the top spot at the three-quarters in 1:24.0. Strengthfromabove and Michael Oosting finished second over Crown Hanover for third.
M-M’s Tony paid $8.80 for the win. The Tellitlikeitis sophomore is owned and trained by Alvin Miller. He began his career last year on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, reeling off five straight wins and qualifying for the Governor’s Cup Championships. The gelding made the trip to the Indiana State Fair a worthwhile journey, winning the $25,000 final. He went on to win a couple more at Harrah’s Hoosier Park before taking the winter off. His win Friday was off a qualifier and established a new career best time for the gelding of 1:51.1. Overall, he is now nine for 14 lifetime.
Also a winner on the Friday card was General Dolan and Trace Tetrick in the $22,000 featured Open Pace. The eight-year-old Rockin Image gelding was flushed first over and rallied home down the stretch for the win in 1:49.3, one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Town Gossip and Michael Oosting. Tellmeaboutit and John DeLong finished third
General Dolan is owned by John and Robert Esposito. Tyler George trains the old veteran for the Esposito family, who also bred the gelding.
General Dolan is now four for seven in 2023. Overall he has 36 wins and more than $487,000 in earnings. His career best time of 1:49.2 was taken last year at seven at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and he nearly equaled that time, only missing his best time record by one fifth of a second.