Pink Sunglasses and Don Harmon scored a surprise win Thursday, Aug. 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in the third race of the night, a $7,200 conditioned claimer. The sophomore filly stopped the timer in 1:53.3 to give the Harmon Family a win, including daughter Rylee Harmon, who is part owner on the filly.
Rylee Harmon is shown jogging Pink Sunglasses at Gil Crest Training Center this past winter. She earned her second win with the filly Thursday, Aug. 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post five, Don Harmon sent Pink Sunglasses straight to the lead, posting the first fraction of :28.0 before being overtaken down the backstretch by Rosas Image and Ricky Macomber, who set middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.2.
In the stretch, Pink Sunglasses found the room she needed to accelerate, rolling by for the win with a final panel in :27.4. Shady Memories and Sam Widger closed well for second over Rosas Image.
Pink Sunglasses is by Tellitlikeitis. She is co-owned by Rylee and Krista and now has two career wins in 12 career starts. Her mile Thursday was a new career best and she now has in excess of $21,000 in career earnings.
Pink Sunglasses paid $12.20 for her trip to the winner’s circle. It is the first horse owned by eight-year-old Rylee, who helps in the barn with her homebred filly. She got her first win as an owner last fall with Pink Sunglasses at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Her mom, Krista, serves as the trainer, making it a complete family affair.
Rylee was featured in the March issue of the ISA Magazine. The filly is named after a song by Miranda Lambert. The filly can be easily spotted on the track as she sports neon pink accessories.
The Harmons are natives of Michigan, and Rylee follows several generations into harness racing. They winter train at Gil Crest Training Center in Bell, Fla. where Rylee attends Bell Elementary. In addition to working with her parents at the barn, she enjoys horseback riding and riding in events. Her favorite horse, Rompaway Beau, now retired for the Harmon clan, is often a teacher to Rylee as she learns more about horses.