A pair of William Wagler-trained trotters spelled double trouble for their opponents Saturday, Sept. 16 during the second session of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. It was stop three on the lineup that extends this fall until the finals set for the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Frankfort, Ind. Saturday, Oct. 7.
Paulines Tereva and Gerald Miller won their third straight race on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit Sat. Sept. 16 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Photo by Tammy Knox
In the only division of two-year-old filly trotters, Paulines Tereva came into the race as the series points leader, winning the two previous legs at Converse and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. While she was the one to beat, Jalepenowiner and Mike Peterson took advantage of a good start and breaking horses on the inside of her to scoot out to the lead, putting Paulines Tereva at their back. Fractions of :31.2 and 1:02.0 were placed on the board before Paulines Tereva and Gerald Miller tipped to the outside heading to the three-quarters to challenge. Just past the three-quarter pole in 1:33.0, the filly took over and moved out away from the field. In the stretch, she opened up to an eventual six length advantage at the wire, trotting home in :29.3 for the win in 2:02.3, a new track record for two-year-old trotting fillies in Shelbyville. Jalepenowiner was a comfortable second over Double A Amber and LeWayne Miller, who finished third.
Paulines Tereva is owned, trained, and bred by William Wagler. The Major Athens filly now has four wins in 14 starts for 2023 with her career best time taken in her previous start at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 1:59.4.
In the very next race, Gerald Miller was back in the bike behind Wagler’s Mollys Terry in the first of two divisions of two-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Unlike his stablemate Paulines Tereva, Molly’s Terry had been close a few times, but was looking for his first career win in the race. Southernsummer and Brad Ferguson used their inside post to their advantage and moved out for the lead followed by Molly’s Terry, who started from post two. The field passed by the quarter in :31.0 and heading to the half, A Blue Million and Michael Detweiler tipped to the outside to challenge Southern Summer.
Mollys Terry and Gerald Miller close on the outside to score the win in two-year-old trotting colt and gelding action in the ISFC Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Photo by Tammy Knox
Molly’s Terry stayed along the inside as the tempo picked up to the three-quarters in 1:31.4. Around the final turn, Miller was able to get Molly’s Terry out to the outside and get a straight shot down the stretch. Widest of all, Molly’s Terry trotted home in :29.4 for the win in 2:02.0, also a new track record for freshman colt and gelding trotters. A Blue Million held his ground inside for second, just a nose back in the tight photo while Mytimesawastin and LeWayne Miller finished third.
Molly’s Terry is also owned, trained and bred by Wagler. The Cherry Hill Park gelding was making his 13th career start to add a win to his credentials.
Another close finish on the day was recorded in the three-year-old colt and gelding pace. After making a break shortly after the start, Starlit Rockstar and Mike Peterson recovered to follow Some Happy Pacer and Jordan Ross past fractions of :31.0 and 1:02.2. Vel Tommy and Carson Conrad came up to challenge at the half and kept pressure applied through the three-quarters in 1:33.0.
Around the turn, Starlit Rockstar got into gear, pacing home in :27.4 to just nab Some Happy Pacer at the finish in 2:01.0. Vel Tommy finished third.
Starlit Rockstar is owned and trained by Peterson. John Wagler bred the son of Rockin Image, who picked up his second win of 2023 and his seventh overall. His career best time of 1:59.2 was taken last year at Frankfort in the ISFC.
The second series of the ISFC moves to Harrison County Fairgrounds next Saturday, Sept. 23. Races at Corydon begin at 11 a.m.