Wanda’s Wonder and LeWayne Miller teamed up for the first win of the freshman trotting filly in the $7,500 conditioned claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Thursday, Oct. 27. The two-year-old filly now has a personal best time of 1:58.4 following the effort.
Wanda’s Wonder and LeWayne Miller timed their move just right to score the upset in the first race Thursday, Oct. 27. Photo by Dean Gillette
Wanda’s Wonder had post three but didn’t challenge the early leaders in the race. Hallmark Janie and Jordan Ross were the first leaders at the quarter in :28.4 with Brookview Dewey and Michael Oosting moving out and taking over after the half in :59.2. This prompted an outer flow of traffic led by Jesse’s Love Bug and Dale Hiteman. Wanda’s Wonder was able to slip out behind them for a perfect second over trip to the stretch.
In the stretch, Wanda’s Wonder tipped to the outside and went to work. She trotted home in :27.2 for the win by a neck over Brookview Dewey. Temple City and Sam Widger rallied up for third.
Wanda’s Wonder paid $28.00 as a longshot in the field. The Dover Dan filly is owned by L & S Racing and Platinum Stables and trained by Susan Miller. Black Creek Farm bred the filly, who was making her fifth career start.
Wanda’s Wonder was a $9,000 yearling purchase from the Hoosier Classic Sale last fall by the Millers. It was the first time she had hit the board in her brief career.
Another longshot winner on the night was Straight Intent, owned and bred by John Barnard. The Straight Shooting gelding got away in mid pack for driver Brandon Bates as La Parka and Charlie Conrad set fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:25.4. Bates found racing room in the stretch and moved up for the win by one and one-quarter lengths at odds of 18-1. Some Kind of Rock and LeWayne Miller finished second over Vel Scotty Boy and Sam Widger for third
Straight Intent paid $39.40 for the win. Luis Quevedo trains the sophomore, who earned his first career trip to the winner’s circle. The gelding improved his career bankroll to more than $8,500 with the win. He has 16 starts this season after going unraced as a two-year-old.