Trainer Verlin Yoder finished one-two in the $20,000 Open Trot at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Driven by James Yoder, Compelling scored her second straight win in the event over It’s a Herbie and Verlin Yoder to complete the Yoder Exacta.
Compelling, shown with owner-trainer Verlin Yoder last year, won her second straight start Saturday, Sept. 12 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Compelling left the gate in pursuit of the top spot but Whata Swan and Robert Taylor beat them to the punch, passing by the first quarter in :27.2. Down the backside, James flipped Compelling to the outside and took control of the race through middle fractions of :56.0 and 1:24.4.
By the time Compelling had arrived in the stretch, she was three lengths ahead of the field. The daughter of Swan for All lengthened her stride, turning in a final panel in :27.1 for the three and one-half length in 1:52.0. It’s A Herbie rallied late in the stretch to close in :26.4 for second over Grand Swan and LeWayne Miller for third.
Bred by Lavon Miller and owned by Verlin Yoder, Compelling now has 17 career wins in 60 career starts. Her latest mile tied her career best time taken last year at Hoosier Park. She now has in excess of $240,000.
Another standout Indiana sired trotter made his way to the winner’s circle on the Saturday card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as Fiftydallarbill was a winner earlier in the card. The Swan for All five-year-old horse got away in mid-pack for Trace Tetrick before moving first over after the half in :56.0.
In the stretch, Fiftydallarbill was able to overtake Bee in Charge and Sam Widger, who had cut the mile and rallied home for the win in 1:52.4. Sweet Mr Pinetucky and Joey Putnam finished third.
Owned by John Barnard, Fiftydallarbill earned his first win of the season in four starts. The millionaire now has 19 career trips to the winner’s circle with his mark of 1:50.2 at The Meadowlands last season standing as his career best. Luis Quevedo trains the Indiana champion trotter.