Go Viral became a pari-mutuel payout sensation Friday, February 27 in the $15,000 Claiming Series Final at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Driver Jordan Ross encouraged the claiming pacer home with a hand drive to score the win by a comfortable margin after finishing third in the preliminary round the week before.
Go Viral began from post two and lumbered out of the gate as Americanfirewater and Marcus Miller moved out for the lead from the center of the track. After Go Viral let Montana Chief A and John DeLong slide into the fourth spot, he was setting fifth as the field passed by the quarter in :28.1. Heading to the half, the tempo slowed prompting Coalford Bythesea and Kyle Wilfong to pull to the outside first from the back of the pack. As the rapid gaited pacer moved up on the outside, Go Viral moved out with Montana Chief A also moving to the outside, giving Go Viral cover into the final turn.

At the head of the lane, Montana Chief A took over and was in full gear as Go Viral began to inch up on the outside. In the final strides, Go Viral went right on by for the win by one and three-quarter lengths. Salty Robyn N and Trace Tetrick got the nod for second in the four-horse photo. Montana Chief N finished third in the 1:55.0 mile.
Go Viral paid $13.80 for the win. The six-year-old Always a Virgin gelding is a new acquisition by Beck Racing LLC and trainer Mike Wilson, who claimed him out of his last start. Wilson, a longtime member of the horseman’s colony at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, is from a harness racing family based in Kentucky. His brothers were also former trainers in Indiana and Ohio. Wilson has been training since 1982 and has been in Indiana since the inception of pari-mutuel racing in the mid 1990s. He currently has four racing in both Indiana and Ohio. Go Viral is a new addition to his barn. Billie Schwartz and James Wilkinson bred the gelding, who earned his first win of 2026 and his ninth overall. The gelding raced in California beginning as a three-year-old and has been at Harrah’s Hoosier Park the past two years. He has $64,000 in earnings with a career best time of 1:51.1 taken last year in Indiana.
In the next race, Buzzsaw Russ and John DeLong were back in the winner’s circle in the evening’s featured $22,000 Open Pace. The Rockin Image six-year-old moved near the back of the petite field at the start as General Dolan and Trace Tetrick claimed the top spot early, posting the first quarter in :27.4. Buzzsaw Russ was out and moving before the half and endured a first over journey into the stretch.
Buzzsaw Russ was strong heading to the wire, winning under wraps by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:51.0, a final quarter in :26.2. Ardens Ace N and LeWayne Miller finished second by a neck over Noblesville and Marcus Miller.
Buzzsaw Russ paid $2.40 as the heavy favorite. He is owned by Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver and trained by Melissa Essig. Devon Knepp and Devon Beechy bred and raised the gelding, who is now two for two in 2026.
Overall, Buzzsaw Russ has 18 wins and more than $857,000 in earnings. His career best time of 1:48.2 was taken at three and he has paced under 1:49.0 the past two seasons, including a 1:47.4 clocking last year.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park cancelled the remainder of their program after Race 6 due to technical issues with the signal. Racing is back in action Thursday, March 5 beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the seventh program of 2026.
