It was a Monster mile in the evening opener Saturday, June 24 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Nick’s Monster, driven by Trace Tetrick, scored the fastest mile of the night in the very first race in a time of 1:49.3.
Nicks Monster and Trace Tetrick rally home to a new lifetime mark and the fastest mile on the Sat. June 24 racing program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Nick’s Monster started from post four and went directly to the lead. He led comfortably at the quarter in :26.0 and half in :54.2. Redbank Blaze A and LeWayne Miller traveled up first over on the outside at the three-quarters in 1:22.3 and kept on pressuring Nick’s Monster.
In the final strides, Redbank Blaze A was persistent, but could not get by Nick’s Monster, who was a winner by one-half length. Fox Valley Sampson and John DeLong maintained their ground inside for third. The entire field of eight paced in 1:50 or faster. Only two and one-half lengths separated the field at the wire.
Nick’s Monster was the favorite, paying $4.80 for the win. The five-year-old son of JK Endofanera is owned by Kirk Nichols, Thomas Gillis, Roehm Racing and Robert Wendel, all of Ohio. Daryl Miller of Blue Bird Meadows bred the gelding, who earned his sixth win of 2023 and his 20th overall. He now has more than $213,000 in earnings with his mile Saturday establishing a new lifetime mark oof 1:49.3. He is a recent addition to the Jason Brewer Stable.
Nick’s Monster is the first foal from the mare Sha Delight, who has a mark of 1:51.3 and more than $182,000 in earnings. She has a yearling filly named Bluebird Shadie by Capt Midnight who will be in the sales this fall and a weanling filly by Rockin Image named Bluebird Daisy.
In the Open 2 Trot, Late Night Hawk and Kyle Wilfong turned in a gate to wire performance to win the $18,000 feature. The four-year-old Dover Dan gelding shot to the lead from post six and never looked back, fending off a late challenge by Jusmakinyalook and Jordan Ross by a neck at the wire in 1:52.1. Flagman and Rick Plano finished third.
Late Nite Hawk paid $4.40 for the win. He is owned by Brett Wilfong and Goose Island Stable. Brett Wilfong also trains.