Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings were featured at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Thursday, July 29 with two emerging victorious in the $48,000 divisions. Predator and Prey and Brookview Bolt each scored a win in their respective divisions, which marked the fourth leg of the series.
Predator and Prey and Jared Finn was victorious in a three-way photo in the fourth leg of Indiana Sires Stakes action Thursday, July 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Predator and Prey from the J.D. Finn barn started his journey from post four. The three-year-old son of Guccio sat near the back of the pack as Breckenridge and Dan Shetler established fractions of :27.3 and :58.2. Predator and Prey, driven by Jared Finn, was flushed out by the only horse behind him, King Felix and Atlee Bender heading into the final turn. The sophomore gelding moved up to challenge Breckenridge at the head of the lane.
In the stretch, Predator and Prey and Breckenridge matched each other stride for stride. They were soon joined by Bluebird Maverick and Dale Hiteman for a three-way battle to the wire. In the end, Predator and Prey scored the win by a neck in 1:55.1. Breckenridge and Bluebird Maverick finished in a dead heat for second.
Predator and Prey paid $8.80 for the win. He is owned by Finn Racing LLC and was bred by Merle Yoder. It was the third win of the season for him in 10 starts. He is now nearing the $100,000 mark in career earnings. His career best time was taken earlier this year in 1:54.4. He was a $10,000 yearling purchase at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale and is a half brother to Satin Dancer, who has in excess of $739,000 in career earnings with a lifetime best of 1:53.0.
Joining Predator and Prey as a Sires Stakes winner on the night was Brookview Bolt from the Ron Burke Stable. The Swan for All gelding, driven by Sam Widger, attempted to go to the lead, but so did several other opponents. Illini Earl and Brandon Bates were the first to reach the front followed by Swingforthefences and Peter Wrenn, who moved on to the lead after the quarter. Brookview Bolt was right on his heels and was the third leader at the half in :56.3, parked out the entire way until he cleared the front after the half.
From there, Brookview Bolt held steady, trotting home in :27.2 for the win by one and one-half length. Monarch and James Yoder closed in the lane for second followed by Illini Earl.
Brookview Bolt is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi. He was bred by Brookview Farm. Last year’s freshman trotting champ is now four for seven this season and earned a new lifetime mark earlier this year in 1:53.1. Brookview Bolt has in excess of $262,000 in earnings.