Swan Captain and Michael Oosting know how to kick off a racing program. The duo waited patiently until the time was right and rallied up for the win as the second longest shot on the board in the first appearance for older trotting horses and geldings in Indiana Sires Stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Swan Captain and Michael Oosting turned in a perfectly timed trip to score the win in the first division of Indiana Sires Stakes for older horses and geldings Friday, Oct. 6 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Swan Captain started from post four and moved out to get the seat right behind Toy’s For You and Luke Plano. The field traveled through fractions of :27.0, :55.1, and 1:24.4 with Ponda Adventure and Trace Tetrick leading the outer flow of traffic to the top of the stretch.
As the field trotted home, Swan Captain tipped out and used a straight shot to get home for the win by one length in 1:53.1, a final quarter in :28.1. Big Christian closed well on the outside and finished evenly with Toy’s for You in a dead heat for second.
Swan Captain was completely overlooked by the betting public, paying $73.80 for the win. The Swan for All four-year-old is owned and trained by Rocco Fava of New York. Oakwood Farms bred the gelding, who picked up his second win in 2023.
Swan Captain is no stranger to success in Indiana Sires Stakes action. He finished third last season in the Super Final for trainer Roger Welch and driver John DeLong before changing hands and going out East. He has made the rounds, starting at The Meadowlands and making stops at Tioga, Pocono and Monticello before coming back to Indiana. He was making his second start at Hoosier Park as he preps for the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for older trotters.
The second division for older trotting horses and geldings was won by Adamsville Road in a stellar lineup of veteran stars. Flagman and Luke Plano rallied out first and secured the top spot as Bluebird Deacon settled in second. Adamsville Road and Trace Tetrick followed in third through fractions of :26.4, :55.3, and 1:24.2.
In the stretch, Dover in Motion and Ricky Macomber Jr. were wound up and ready to pounce on the top ones, trotting home the fastest of the field. He got by everyone but Adamsville Road, who was the winner by a half length in 1:53.3. Dover in Motion was a solid second over Late Nite Hawk and Kyle Wilfong, who finished third.
Adamsville Road paid $11.20 for the win. The Swan for All four-year-old gelding is owned by Mel Rose Stable and Joe Nesselroad. Tyler George trains the gelding, who picked up his sixth win of the season and his 14th overall. He now has more than $358,000 on his card with his career best time of 1:52.3 taken at Hoosier Park last season.
The racing program was held early Friday, Oct. 6 to accommodate a special show in the Terrace Showroom. Air Supply, the popular duo of the 1970s and 1980s performed a show at 9 p.m.