Little Jolena and Some Kind of Rock share the same mother. They also shared the winner’s circle Thursday, Nov. 17 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Little Jolena was the first to win Thursday night and her half brother, Some kind of Rock, won a few races later for the LeWayne and Susan Miller Stable. Atlee Bender drove Little Jolena to victory in the Thursday, Nov. 17 race. Photo by Dean Gillette
Little Jolena kicked off the evening with a win in the first race. The two-year-old Indiana sired filly got away fourth as Remember Me Now and Jordan Ross set the first fraction of :28.1. Heading to the half, Image of a Beach was parked on the outside near the back and flushed Little Jolena to the outside, who followed Lets Flip Onit and Mike Peterson to the leaders at the half in :58.2.
Once they had cleared Little Jolena kept going and secured the lead by the three-quarters in 1:27.3. The Always a Virgin filly kicked into a higher gear and lengthened her lead to four in the stretch, coasting home for the win by two lengths in 1:58.3. Atlee Bender drove the filly for trainer Susan Miller for the win. Sharingthecost and LeWayne Miller finished second to make it a stable double for the Millers. Knives Out and John DeLong finished third.
Little Jolena was the favorite of the field, paying $4.60 for the win. She is owned by Starlight Meadows and Jason Zehr, who also bred the filly.
A few races later it was Some Kind of Rock’s turn to head to the winner’s circle. Driven by LeWayne Miller, the three-year-old Rockin Image gelding had post nine and didn’t even attempt to take on his challengers early, coasting to the back of the pack as Little Guy and Joey Putnam set fractions of :28.1, :57.0 and 1:26.2. Miller had pulled Some Kind of Rock to the outside at the half but was still in the back of the pack. He had only moved up to seventh at the top of the stretch and had a lot of work to do to get around rivals. But it was a task he took on gamely, pacing home in :28.0 for the win by a neck in 1:56.0. Attitudes Rocking and Kyle Wilfong finished second over Jimmy the Duke and Atlee Bender for third.
Some Kind of Rock paid $20.80 as a surprise winner of the race. The sophomore is owned by Platinum Stables and was bred by Starlight Meadows and Jason Zehr. Susan Miller also trains.
Little Jolena and Some Kind of Rock are from the broodmare Odds On Alpha, who took a mark of 1:53.0 and made $128,000 before retirement. She has had three foals so far and all three have raced. Both Little Jolena and Some Kind of Rock took new lifetime marks in their races Thursday.
Odds on Alpha, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, comes from a long line of racehorses. She is the sister to Gigi from Fiji, who earned a mark of 1:51.1 and made $275,000. She is also a brood mare now to carry on the family tradition.