Photo of Brandon's Gal and Lavern Hostetler on the inside of Midnight Attire and Mike Peterson en route to the mare's first win Thursday, Oct. 29 at Harrah's Hoosier Park by Dean Gillette
Brandon’s Gal was on a mission Thursday, October 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired pacer turned in a strong performance to score the win as the second longest shot on the board in the $10,000 conditioned claiming event for fillies and mares.
Brandon’s Gal began from post three for owner-trainer-driver Lavern Hostetler. She backed off the gate and was hesitant to use any early speed, but Hostetler kept after the mare and got her mindset in the race heading into the first turn. She opted not to get away along the inside in third and headed straight for the lead, parked on the outside of Midnight Attire and Mike Peterson at the quarter in :28.3. Down the backstretch, Brandon’s Gal kept right on going and led the field by two at the half in :56.4.
The field stayed along the inside until the final turn. Hostetler knew he had the two heavy favorites right at his back. Elphaba and LeWayne Miller moved to the outside and Midnight Attire was advancing along the inside.
At the head of the lane, Elphaba went off stride. Midnight Attire had plenty of room to start her move on Brandon’s Gal. Midway through the stretch, she did close the gap and came up to the outside of Brandon’s Gal, but the mare dug in. Both pacers hit the wire together with Call Me Lator and Kyle Wilfong also joining the charge with a late rush on the outside to make it a three-horse photo. In the end, Brandon’s Gal was a winner by a neck over Midnight Attire. Call Me Lator finished another neck back in third.
Brandon’s Gal and Midnight Attire made it a Capt Midnight one-two punch in the race. Brandon’s Gal paid $44.80 for the win. The four-year-old mare was bred by John Wagler. Hostetler purchased her at the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale for $6,750 under the name Starlitmidnight Gal from the first crop of Capt Midnight. Her win Thursday was her first career trip to the winner’s circle from 75 career starts. She has had 11 second place finishes along the way and has accumulated more than $50,000 during her career. Her win Thursday in 1:54.3 becomes her new lifetime mark. Her dam, Dutch’s Gal, took a mark of 1:55 during her career and made more than six figures before becoming a brood mare. She has produced several racehorses including Starlit Dutch Boy, a winner in 1:54.1 and a two-year-old this year by Gulf Shores named He Sells Seashells who is racing.
Earlier in the card, Tellit Quick and Matt Krueger won a similar race for fillies and mares in the conditioned claiming race with an almost identical mile. After taking over after the quarter in :28.0, Tellit Quick paced home in :28.2 to win in 1:55.0, a two and three-quarter length winner over Jetting Legacy and Kyle Husted. Super Crickett and Jordan Ross finished third.
Tellit Quick paid $3.20 as the favorite. The Tellitlikeitis six-year-old is owned by breeder Lyle Lacey of Missouri. Matt Kruger trains the mare, who earned her first win of 2026. Her career best was taken at Oak Grove as a three-year-old in 1:53.2. She didn’t race as a four or five-year-old and is now back at six, hitting the board in many of her races. Overall, she now has three wins and earnings of more than $65,000.
