Vel Straight Fun, driven by Michael Detweiler, earned her first career win Friday, Sept. 9 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) made a stop on the one-mile track as part of the second round of the series in Indiana with two-year-old filly pacers kicking off the card.
Vel Straight Fun and Michael Detweiler return in front of the grandstand following the filly’s first win in the ISFC stop at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Friday, Sept. 9.
Starting from the inside post one in the nine-filly lineup, Vel Straight Fun left the gate with everyone else seeking a good resting spot early on as Vel Straight Out and Bradley Ferguson rushed to the lead followed by Fanfoss and Mark Herschberger in the two-hole. Towline Tilly and James Reed were able to slide over in front of Vel Straight Fun just after the quarter in :29.2. Heading to the half, Vel Straight Out still had the lead in :59.0 as Swartz Bros Alice began the outer flow and began moving up with horses following her lead.
Around the final turn, it was anyone’s race as horses were fanned out three and four-wide searching for the right spot to tackle the stretch drive. In the stretch, Vel Straight Out began to dig deep and veered off the rail. Most of the opponents were attacking from the outside, but it was a smooth move by Detweiler right up the rail that brought Vel Straight Fun right to the lead, clearing just before the wire for the win by a half-length in 1:58.3, a final quarter in :29.4. Fanfoss held her ground for second over Towline Tilly for third. Only six lengths separated the entire field at the finish.
Vel Straight Fun is trained by Larry King and owned by King Racing Stable of Ohio. Alvin Schwartz bred the Straight Shooting filly, who was making her 14th career start. It was her first trip back to the winner’s circle after finish second and third seven times this season for her connections.
Vel Straight Fun is a full brother to Vel Charlie, who has a mark of 1:49.2 and more than $144,000 on his card. The five-year-old gelding is still racing.
The other division of freshman pacing fillies was won by Mystic Melissa and Joey Putnam. The Tellitlikeitis filly went straight to the lead and never looked back, opening up by three lengths at the wire for the win in 1:55.2, a final quarter in :28.1. Lil Miss Patriot and Doug Rideout finished second over Vel Miss Taylor and Bradley Ferguson for third.
Mystic Melissa is owned by JP Racing LLC and Michael Lee. Joe Putnam trains the filly, who was bred by Wayne Slabach. She is now four for eight in her career and her latest mile marked a new career best.
Switching over to the freshman trotting ranks, Help Me Baby and Peter Wrenn earned a big win in the first division of fillies, scoring the victory by 15 lengths in 1:58.2. The Helpisontheway filly just got started with her career and it was her first win in her third career start after finishing second in her two previous efforts. Help Me Baby is trained by Melanie Wrenn for Wiesman Farms LLC, Buckstone Land Livestock, and Mr. David Lynch all of Pennsylvania. Lloyd Wittmer bred the filly, who sold under the name Rusty’s Help last fall as part of the first crop by hot sire Helpisontheway. The filly brought $12,000 through the sales ring at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale.
The other two-year-old filly trotting division was won by Sea Surfer and Doug Rideout. The You Know You Do freshman went to the lead early in :30.0 at the first quarter before being overtaken by Edge of Rejoicing and Michael Detweiler at the half in 1:00.2. Sea Surfer moved out in the stretch to score the win by two and one-half lengths in 2:00.2. Cash in the Bank moved in for second for Clint Coy to give Rideout a one-two finish over Edge of Rejoicing.
Sea Surfer, also trained by Rideout, is owned by Julie Rideout, Dr. Alan White, Y-Not Racing Stable and Amanda Sharpe. Steven Mast bred the filly, who earned her third win in nine starts. The time was also a new career best for Sea Surfer.