Cruisen Halle on cruise control in Stohler Final

Photo by Dean Gillette

Cruisen Halle and LeWayne Miller were on cruise control at the wire to win the $20,000 Kenneth Stohler Memorial Thursday, April 16 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The mild upset winner scored the victory in the fillies and mares event in 1:52.2 for the filly’s first career win.

Starting from post two, Cruisen Halle headed out to the lead from the inside and was the first to show the way in the field of 10 before Klorox Queen and Trace Tetrick reached the lead at the quarter in :26.1. Cruisen Halle let her settle on the front before popping back out and retaking control before the half in :54.4. Lets Justin Turtle and Marcus Miller was then the third leader heading into the final turn. Sweet Mama Drama N and Mike Micallef led the outside charge forward around the field turn with Cruisen Halle getting shuffled back on the inside.

In the stretch, Cruisen Halle found room to move and was out and rolling, getting by her opponents and leading the way to the finish line by a comfortable two length advantage. Sweet Mama Drama N maintained her position for second over Klorox Queen for third.

Cruisen Halle paid $15.80 for the win. She picked a great time to break her maiden in the Stohler Final for her connections, owner William Hartt and Britney Dillon, who also trains. Devon Beechy and Devon Knepp bred the sophomore daughter of Rockin Image, who sold out of the 3-D Farms consignment at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $80,000. The well-bred filly is a full sister to the standout older pacer Buzzsaw Russ, making her a hot prospect both on the track and as a brood mare some day.

Cruisen Halle made 10 starts last year as a two-year-old with no luck. She made her three-year-old debut in the last preliminary round of the Stohler Memorial and finished second, setting her up for her maiden breaking victory in the final.

Later in the program the $20,000 Miss Windfall Final was held with Princess Laa and trainer-driver Dale Hiteman picking up the win. The five-year-old Always a Virgin mare is owned by DTM Stable of Ohio and is a product of Velocity Standardbreds from their tough race mare Sugar Nips. Princess Laa was in the mix early, and fought her way to the wire for the win by a neck in 1:54.4. Ishtar and Trace Tetrick finished second over It Liz Again and Kyle Wilfong.

Princess Laa is now two for four in 2026. The win was also a new lifetime mark for the mare, who only started one time as a two-year-old, missed her entire three-year-old season, and then only had two starts last year at four. Her dam, Sugar Nips, used to race in Indiana and earned a mark of 1:50.4 with more than $250,000 in earnings before her retirement. She is a near 100 percent producer with three six figure winners, Sugar Island (1:50.1, $251,000), Velocity Poprocks (1:50.2, $318,000) and Suge (1:52.3, $185,000). Princess Laa is her final foal.

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Lyin' Eyes scores new lifetime mark

By Tammy Knox • August 30, 2026

Photo of Lyin' Eyes and Joey Putnam by Dean Gillette Lyin’ Eyes and Joey Putnam were the only ones to dip below the 1:50 time barrier Saturday, August 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The duo scored the win in the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, earning a new lifetime mark in the process. Lyin’ Eyes began from post one and used that to her advantage when the gate opened for the race. She had just enough early speed to slide in behind Yankee B Something and Geremy Bobbitt, who passed by the quarter in :26.2. Lyin’ Eyes out and moving to the front, settling in before the half in :54.4. This spurred an outer flow to form led by Adashious Hanover and Trace Tetrick. At the head of the lane, Lyin’ Eyes was battling with Adashious Hanover on the outside with Yankee B Something had room to move up the inside. But Lyin’ Eyes kept on task, rallying all the way to the wire for the win in 1:49.4, a final quarter paced in :26.4. Reason to Shine A and LeWayne Miller closed in for second over Naked on a Hill and Brandon Bates for third. Lyin’ Eyes paid $9.40 for the win. The five-year-old daughter of Odds on Equuleus is owned by JP Racing, Joey Putnam, and Crazy Parrot Farm. Joe Putnam handles the training of the mare who originated from Silver Linden Farms. Lyin’ Eyes earned her second win of 2026 and her 11 th overall. She increased her career bankroll to more than $526,000 with the win. She has spent her entire career with the Putnam barn, a $21,000 purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Her second dam is a big producer, including Martini Hanover (1:49.0, $487,000). Lyin’ Eyes dam, Miswave Hanover, is a 100 percent producer with three winners from three foals of racing age, including three-year-old Change of Order (1:53.0, $39,000) and Table for Four (1:54.0, $23,000). The night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park was filled with all types of activities, including the second annual Lowrider 500 featuring Weiner Dog racing. Fans surrounded the front paddock as preliminary rounds were held to determine the final field for the main event on the racetrack. Skinny Lenny was the overall winner followed by Archie and Ellie. The Saturday card also included not one but two dead-heats on the night. Wild Rosa (Brandon Bates) and Prtynproud Hanover (Trace Tetrick) hit the wire together in the $12,000 conditioned pace in 1:50.3. A few races later, Woodmere Harriet (Todd Warren) and Schnapps (Anthony Miller) also could not be separated at the wire for the dead heat win in 1:54.0 in the conditioned pace.

Sophomore filly breaks maiden in Final

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