Several impressive two-year-old trotters were on track Friday, June 2 at the Converse Fairgrounds for the second round of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC). The day was capped off with a dominating victory from Woodside Hank and last year’s leading driver and trainer on the ISFC, Doug Rideout.
Woodside Hank and Doug Rideout trot home to victory in the first stop of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) Friday, June 2.
Starting from post one, Woodside Hank and Rideout had the best shot to lead the way and took advantage of that to secure the top spot, setting fractions of :34.4, 1:07.4 and 1:38.2. Just before the three-quarter mile marker, Hoosier’s Help and Robert Taylor pulled out and has track announcer Rick Uppal said, “Taylor pulled on the right line and gave Hoosier’s Help the green light to advance.”
The two trotters were head to head around the final turn until Hoosier’s Help made an unfortunate break, dropping back and leaving Woodside Hank all alone on the lead. The freshman trotter was a winner by more than 26 lengths as all but one other entrant in the race had gone off stride during the mile. Hoosier’s Help recovered to finish second followed by Easter Jack and James Reed, who stayed trotting the entire way.
Woodside Hank is owned by Twoforone Stable and was bred by Woodside Stables’ Lester Beechy. Rideout also trains the youngster, who is by Swan for All.
Rideout also connected in the race before with two-year-old trotting gelding Uncle Archie. Rideout placed the Swan for All freshman on the front end and never looked back, posting the win in 2:08.4 by three and one-half lengths. Swanmoreboy and Robert Taylor finished second over Camelot Prince and Derek Hooley for third
Uncle Archie is a homebred, owned and bred by Dr. Allan White. He is a half sister to the trotting standout Honorable Daughter with a mark of 1:55.1 and nearly $1 million on her card, along with Uncle Leo, who has a mark of 1:55.3 and $183,000 on his card, and Honorable Lady, who has a mark of 2:00.2 and more than $56,000.
Earlier in the day, two track records fell in the sophomore pacing ranks. Shake Me Loose and John Delong took over at the half and rallied to a 20 length advantage at the wire in 1:55.3, shattering the previous mark of 1:56.2 set by Rockin Rum Springa and Matt Rheinheimer set in 2016 for Byron Hooley and his Summit Pacing Acres.
In the sophomore colt and gelding division, Coaches Corner and Derek Hooley moved three wide in the final turn to rally by opponents in the win by one and one-half lengths in 1:54.1. Vel What a Star and Jay Cross finished second, also eclipsing the previous track record, while Starlit Rockstar and Mike Peterson finished third.
Coaches Corner is owned by Always a Virgin and trained by Byron Hooley. Summit Pacing Acres owns the talented gelding. His track record time was more than two second quicker than the previous mark.
The previous record for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers was established in 2021 by Vel Letsroll South and Clay Craib. The Time to Roll gelding won in 1:56.3 to set the new time barrier.