Just when you thought On to Norway could not get any more impressive, he reeled off a once in a lifetime win Saturday, July 4 at The Meadowlands. The Indiana trotter added World Champion to his status as the fastest trotter ever with his mile in the $230,000 Graduate Final in 1:48.3. On to Norway and Yannick Gingras had a tough spot to begin from in the nine hole, but that didn’t deter them from leaving the gate with speed. As they headed into the first turn, they were four wide before the field fanned out. At first, it looked like they might be parked the mile, but On to Norway found a spot in fourth right at the quarter in :26.3. Walspea and Tim Tetrick set the tempo and as the horses from the back began to move to the outside, On to Norway was forced out again before the half in :53.4. He bided his time, which allowed Mr Mouton and Ake Svanstedt to move to the outside, giving On to Norway a horse to follow in the second half. At the head of the lane, it appeared On to Norway was not going to have anything left for the stretch drive. He dipped back down to the inside and seemed to find some life. Meshuggah and Andrew McCarthy went off stride from the second spot and On to Norway had to maneuver through horses. Once he was clear, he rallied home in :26.3 to win by a neck over race favorite Super Chapter and Dexter Dunn. Walspea finished third. On to Norway paid $9.40 for the win. The four-year-old son of Muscle Massive is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black and White Stable, and Mike Rosenthal. Bennett Farms Inc. of Michigan bred and raised the gelding, who topped $850,000 for his career. He is now five for six in 2026 as the sports newest world champion. On to Norway, who began on the Michigan fair circuit at two, is now 32 for 39 lifetime. He won 23 of 24 last year and continued his winning ways this year, winning 27 straight, including the first round of the Graduate Series before finishing second in his previous start before the Graduate Final. Ron Burke trains the talented trotter. Ironically, the previous mark for the quickest trotting mile was established by Homicide Hunter, another Indiana trotter who stopped the timer in 1:48.4. The Mr Cantab gelding was six at the time and set the mark at The Red Mile in 2018 for driver Brian Sears and trainer Chris Oakes.
Photo by Dean Gillette of Dan D Man Can and Atlee Bender The Erv Miller Stable started off the Fourth of July card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park winning the early double with a bang. A pair of trotters scored wins in conditioned action starting off with Dan D Man Can and ending with Bourbon Courage. Dan D Man Can and Atlee Bender took on older horses in the $11,500 upper conditioned trot. The Indiana Sires Stakes winner this year began from post four and got away in third as Toy’s for You and John DeLong took over early, passing by the quarter in :27.4 and half in :56.3. The veteran trotter continued to lead the way around the final turn before the pink wheels of Dan D Man Can were visible on the far outside. Dan D Man Can rallied home in 27.3 to score the win by three-quarters of a length over his older opponents in 1:52.4. Late Nite Hawk and Jordan Ross finished second over Toy’s For You in the close finish. Dan D Man Can was the favorite, paying $2.60 for the win. The sophomore son of Dover Dan is owned by Red Barn Stable, Stepbystep Racing and Lava Java Stable. Homestead Acres bred and raised the gelding, who was sold under the name Dover Alert for $38,000. He is the first foal from the Donato Hanover mare Caramela Hanover, who is a half sister to both Cloud Nine Hanover Comeonover Hanover, both stakes winners of six figures. He recently went through an ownership adjustment with the Erv Miller barn. Dan D Man Can remains undefeated in five starts this season. Overall, he is nearly at a quarter million on his card and his win Saturday was a new lifetime mark. Joining Dan D Man Can as a winner on the card was Bourbon Courage in a conditioned claiming event. The six-year-old son of You Know You Do took over at the half and fended off a late challenge by Paragon Magicway and Jordan Ross. Scrappys Love and Rick Plano finished third. Marcus Miller guided Bourbon Courage to victory. He paid $7.00 for the win. The Erv Miller Stable and Stepbystep Racing own the gelding, who was bred by Carter Duer. The Saturday card was cut short due to severe weather heading into the Anderson area, causing a delay after the first five races. Fireworks were also moved up so they could get the show in before a second round of storms rolled in.
Photo Caption: Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman scored two wins on the card, including Timber Man driven by Marcus Miller. Photo by Dean Gillette It was an action packed night Friday, July 3 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. While Indiana Sires Stakes took the majority of the spotlight, Indiana’s two-million dollar Little Rocket Man landed in the winner’s circle for the seventh time this year in the $22,000 Open Pace. Guided by Kyle Wilfong, the standout Indiana pacer scored the win in 1:49.3 with a final quarter in :26.4. Little Rocket Man drew post five and was on his way to the front just as soon as the gate folded. He had settled in on the front end at the quarter in :26.1 with Combustion and Marcus Miller sat at their backs with Crooked Smile and Jordan Ross sitting third. Little Rocket Man continued to lead the way through the half in :55.0 and picked up the pace a tick through the three-quarters in 1:22.4. Little Rocket Man never gives in easily and he was unstoppable Friday, posting the victory by one length in 1:49.3 over Leave it To Leo and Atlee Bender who closed in for second. M-Ms Bud and John DeLong also closed for third. Little Rocket Man paid $5.40 for the win. The 10-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman, who have owned him during his entire career. Victory Hill Farm bred and raised the gelding who earned his 86 th career win and moved his career bankroll closer to $2.1 million. His career best time of 1:47.2, which equaled the track record, was taken as a four-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Ken Rucker trains the standout pacer. The win from Little Rocket Man was the third of the night for the Rucker barn, who also sent out Lucky Jade to victory in the first race of the night, a $16,000 event for Indiana Sires Stakes eligible pacers. Driven by Brandon Bates, Lucky Jade scored a gate to wire win with a time of 1:51.1. Rock My Memory and John DeLong finished a neck back in second over Mellow Fellow and Jared Finn for third. Lucky Jade was the favorite, paying $3.20 for the win. The sophomore ridgling son of Luck Be Withyou is owned by Earnest Sork, Nori Nessa, and Shawn Nessa of Illinois. It was the second win in a row for the horse, who has six career wins and more than $71,000 in earnings. His win on July 3 is a new career best. In between Lucky Jade and Little Rocket Man, the Rucker barn scored a win with Timber Man, also owned by Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman. The sophomore son of Rockin Image was guided by Marcus Miller in a gate to wire effort in 1:51.3. JK The Great and Jordan Ross finished second over We Got History and Kyle Wilfong. Timber Man paid $6.40 for the win. He was bred by Black Creek Farm.
Sassie Kassie and Kevin Lambright remained undefeated Thursday, July 2 in the first division of two-year-old pacing fillies at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Frankfort. The duo covered the one mile event in a time of 2:02.0 during very hot conditions on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC). Sassie Kassie began from post two and that is where she got away. Velmissfoxyshooter and Clint Coy rallied out from post four and took over to lead the field through the quarter in :30.4. Sassie Kassie was out before the half in 1:01.3 and secured the top spot for the remainder of the mile. After beginning on the second tier, Sharkin Image and Kevin Detweiler led the outside charge into the final turn. However, Sassie Kassie was well in control of the race, moving the final quarter in :30.2 for the win by one and three-quarter lengths under a hand drive by Lambright. Velmissfoxyshooter finished second over Sharkin Image. Sassie Kassie is owned and trained by Kassandra Lambright. The freshman daughter of Capt Midnight was bred by Freeman Bontrager and was purchased by the Lambright Stable this April. The other freshman filly on the program seeking to stay undefeated was Bella Notte, who earned her fourth win on the ISFC for the Joe Putnam barn. Also by Capt Midnight, the filly took the lead from Slick as Silk and Doug Rideout at the quarter in :30.0 and led the rest of the way for driver Joey Putnam, pulling away to a four-length advantage in 1:59.0, a final quarter in :27.4. Slick as Silk was second several lengths over ER Sarah and Don Eash for third. Bella Notte is owned by Joey Putnam and Lyndar Stables. She is a homebred by Lyndar and Rocco Ruffolo and is now four for four, all on the ISFC. Her win Thursday was her quickest to date and the fastest of all freshman pacers for the day. The fastest mile on the program was recorded by three-year-old gelding trotter Don’t Tell Anyone, driven by Kevin Detweiler. The Don’t Let’Em sophomore got away on top, but then relinquished that spot at the quarter in :30.0 to Yearoffear and Doug Rideout. Don’t Tell Anyone took control again at the three-quarters and was in a fierce battle with Yearoffear into the stretch. Don’t Tell Anyone trotted home in :29.4 for the win in 1:58.0. Great Commission and Clint Coy finished second over Yearoffear. Don’t Tell Anyone is owned by Black and White Stable and trained by Leander Schwartz. Dr. Paul and Cathy Webb bred the gelding, who has now won five in a row on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. Detweiler was named on three horses in the race and chose to drive Don’t Tell Anyone. The ISFC is back in action Friday, July 3 at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. Two-year-old trotters will kick off the program followed by three-year-old pacers. Action begins at 10 a.m. to avoid the elevated heat which remains in Central Indiana.
Photo by Dean Gillette Heffae proved to be the boss of the $12,000 Indiana sired two-year-old group Wednesday, July 1, kicking off the program with a win in his very first start. Guided by owner Lamar Wingard, Heffae was a winner in 1:57.3. Heffae began from post three and moved straight out for the lead, passing by the quarter in :29.0 before Angry Swan and Kevin Lambright took over the top spot, settling in before the half in :59.0. As the field moved around the final turn, Heffae was flushed out and began his move, taking over at the head of the lane. In the stretch, Heffae went to work, trotting home in :28.3 for the win by one and one-half lengths. Nectar of the Gods and Mike Micallef finished second over Ponda Solve and Trace Tetrick for third. Heffae paid $14.00 for the win. The Don’t Let’Em gelding is trained by Ken Rucker for Wingard, who is a blacksmith by trade. He purchased the trotter from the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale last fall for 9,000 from the Legacy Lane Farm consignment. He was purchased under the name Xpo Transit before Wingard changed it to Heffae, who is from a fairly successful family. His dam is the Andover Hall mare Missy Hall, who has produced five winners from eight foals including two six figure winners King Felix (1:55.0, $298,000) and Five Star Photo (1:56.0, $114,000). Another Indiana freshman who visited the winner’s circle Wednesday was Starboard, driven by Jordan Ross. The Swan for All freshman took over after the quarter and held his position all the way to the wire, winning by three and one-half lengths in 1:57.4, a final panel in :28.4. Steppinouttohelp and Robert Taylor finished second over Kountry Dion and Kyle Wilfong for third. Starboard paid $13.00. He is owned by Donald Robinson, Indiana Stables, Mark Schwartz, and Roger Miller Jeff Bankey. Henry Graber Jr. trains the gelding, who was bred and raised by Alan and Larry Troyer. Starboard was also making his first career start. His dam, Stirling Debutant, has a mark of 1:55.1 and earnings of $150,000.
Photo by Dean Gillette John and Robert Esposito have seen a lot of success with their powerhouse veteran pacer General Dolan. The now 11-year-old son of Rockin Image has already won five races this year and counting. His bankroll exceeds $730,000 and he took his career best time of 1:48.4. Now, its time for the Esposito team add another member of the family to root for as two-year-old Lucky Lisa G and Trace Tetrick won their first race Tuesday, June 30 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Beginning from post one, Lucky Lisa G was making her third career start. She had some early speed inside but Literally Rockin and Mike Peterson had their sights set on the front spot to lead the field through the quarter in :28.4. It didn’t take Lucky Lisa G long to move out and around, securing the top spot before the half in :58.0. Lucky Lisa G remained in control around the final turn before Tetrick asked the freshman filly for more speed. At the head of the lane, Lucky Lisa G took off, posting the win by eight and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.1, a final quarter in :28.4. Literally Rockin finished second over Whiskey Straight and Anthony Miller. Lucky Lisa G was the favorite, paying $3.00 for the win. She is owned by John and Robert Esposito, who also bred and raised her from their brood mare Townes Party Girl. In addition to General Dolan, the mare has produced four other winners besides Lucky Lisa G, including two with marks under 1:52, Royal Richie Doyle and Longwood Lolly. Just like General Dolan, Lucky Lisa G is trained by Tyler George, six-time leading trainer champion at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Tetrick and George teamed up again later in the card with another two-year-old as Callie Rocks rallied home in a gate to wire effort in 1:53.3. The Rockin Image filly paced home in :27.1 for the win, her second in three lifetime starts. Callie Rocks earned a new lifetime mark in the effort. Callie Rocks is owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber, and Stephen Stoll, all of Indiana. The filly was part of the Integrity Stable consignment last fall at the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was an $8,000 purchase by her connections.
Topville Somebeach kicked off the Monday, June 29 racing program at Yonkers Raceway. The Indiana pacer rallied home in a new career best time of 1:51.2. Topville Somebeach and Yannick Gingras were the quickest out of the gate, getting the first call from the center of the track. Mind Hunter and Scott Zeron held their ground inside and it was evident they were not going to relinquish the lead, so Topville Somebeach slid in behind in the two hole as the field approached the quarter in :27.1. From there, the field remained in single file through the half in :55.3 before the back of the pack began to form an outer flow. Mind Hunter and Topville Somebeach began to pull away from the remainder of the field. In the middle of the final turn, Gingras decided it was time to attack and as soon as he pulled on the right line, Topville Somebeach took off and was around Mind Hunter in just a few strides. At the head of the lane, Topville Somebeach began to sprint away, scoring the win by six lengths with a final quarter in :27.3. Mind Hunter was second over Caviart Sargent and Jim Marohn Jr. finished third. Topville Somebeach was the favorite, paying $3.84 for the win. The six-year-old Rockin Image gelding is owned by Dr. Joshua Tanis of Michigan and trained by Jared Bako. Merle Yoder bred and raised the gelding, who earned his sixth career win of 2026. After only winning one race during his two and three-year-old season, Topville Somebeach now has 24 career wins from 86 career starts. His bankroll exceeds $225,000. He was claimed from the race by Ginko Stable and Latz A Luck Stable. Heat continues to alter racing schedules in the Midwest. Oak Grove has canceled its card for Tuesday, June 30 and the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit racing at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Frankfort Thursday, July 2 has been moved to 10AM to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Photo by Dean Gillette Atlee Bender scores 1,000 th win By Tammy Knox Atlee Bender, top five driver at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, added a new statistic to his credentials with his 1,000 th career driving win Friday, June 26. The 34-year-old celebrated the milestone with trotter Go Pikachu Go in the evening’s fifth race. It was a big day for Bender, who started off at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, Ky. winning all three of his races and actually scoring his 1,000 th with two-year-old filly pacer Aww Suki Suki Na for trainer Joey Ayotte. Bender ended up winning all three of his drives on the day in Kentucky before scooting north to Harrah’s Hoosier Park for the night program. Family and friends joined him in the winner’s circle with a banner and pink shirts with “1,000 wins and Counting” to celebrate the accomplishment with the Ron Burke-trained Go Pikachu Go. Bender drove in 14 total races Friday, June 26, hitting the board with half of his horses. Bender and his wife, Hannah, reside in Noblesville with their two-year-old daughter, Linden. The Goshen, Ind. native has had a banner year so far, winning seven on the card at Oak Grove in early May to establish a new track record for most wins in one program at the Kentucky track. He has had numerous multiple wins thus far at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this season with his 73 rd win of the meet recorded on his milestone night.
Photo by Dean Gillette Indiana Sires Stakes continued Saturday, June 27 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. To set the tone, an oldie but goodie kicked off the night with an upset win as Joker Rockwell got the laugh in the $8,500 conditioned pace. Driven by Jordan Ross, Joker Rockwell began from post one and when the gate opened, Ross surveyed the field before deciding what to do. He floated Joker Rockwell out and got away in fourth as Premier Romeo and Atlee Bender took over the top spot heading into the first turn. The field was in single file through the quarter in :26.3 and half in :54.3. Hello Sweetie Boy and John DeLong began the chain of outer flow traffic, but Joker Rockwell opted to stay inside around the final turn. Joker Rockwell was shuffled back to nearly last at the head of the lane. The finish scenario looked a lot different at the head of the stretch than it did late in the race. Joker Rockwell was covered up and appeared to be going the wrong direction. When the passing lane arrived, there was just enough room to get by opponents on the inside. He still had two more horses ahead of him, including race favorite Premier Romeo and Downbythe ocean and Kyle Wilfong. Ross found a seam between those two horses and shot through to the lead, fending off a late charge on the outside by Low Rider for the win by a neck in 150.1. Premier Romeo was third. Joker Rockwell paid $28.20 for the win. The six-year-old son of JK Endofanera is owned by Caldwell Mamie Racing and trained by Charles Stewart. Glen Hershberger and Marlin Fry bred the gelding, who is out of Fry’s race mare Nora Rockwell. It was his second win of 2026 and his 16 th overall. He took his career best time of 1:49.2 last year as a five-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Later in the card, Brooklets Rockette and Kevin Lambright earned another win in the $12,000 conditioned pace for fillies and mares. The Rockin Image four-year-old, owned and bred by Gary Wilcox from a Personal Power mare he trained, moved first over at the half and kept on rolling, winning by two lengths in 1:51.0. Rose Run Vision and LeWayne Miller finished second over Sadhaka N and Trace Tetrick for third. Brooklets Rockette is trained by Robert Taylor. She is now four for five in 2026 and her win Saturday was a new lifetime best. Overall, she has seven wins and more than $75,000 in earnings. Earlier in the day, the final Breakfast at the Hop was held featuring two-year-olds in qualifying races. The evening event was Family Friendly Saturdays featuring activities geared toward younger racing fans.
Photo by Dean Gillette A little luck and a lot of skill brought Lucky Jade and Brandon Bates across the wire first Friday, June 26 in the $16,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eligible event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The duo were open length winners in a time of 1:51.2 over the sloppy racetrack that endured rains all day. Lucky Jade began from the outside post six and went straight for the lead, securing the top spot by the first turn with heavily favored We Got History and Kyle Wilfong slipping in behind him before the quarter in :27.1. We Got History was then out and moving and took over before the half in :550. Lucky Jade was able to stay tucked in around the turn before moving out and retaking the lead at the head of the lane. In the stretch, Lucky Jade took off, moving away from the field to win by three and one-half lengths in 1:51.2, a final quarter in :27.2. We Got History finished second over Check Your Pockets and LeWayne Miller for third. Lucky Jade paid $8.00 for the win. The sophomore son of Luck Be Withyou is owned by Earnest Sork, Nori Nessa, and Shawn Nessa, who trains and stables out of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Southern Illinois. Shawn, a former Iowa State High School wrestling champion, moved the ridgling to the Ken Rucker barn for the summer in Indiana. Mervin Lehman bred and raised the three-year-old, who earned a new career best time in the effort. Lucky Jade won four of nine last year as a freshman while racing on the Illinois county fair circuit for some of those starts. Overall, he now has five wins and more than $63,000 in earnings for his connections. He was one of six who sold at public auction as a yearling, bringing $5,700 at the Midwest Classic Sale in Shipshewana. He is the latest foal from the Four Starzzz Shark mare Jinglejanglejingle, who had a mark of 1:51.3 herself with over $400,000 in earnings. Lucky Jade is now her quickest foal with all four making it to the races. Indiana Sires Stakes divisions on the card grabbed the spotlight, but the evening also included a $22,000 Open Handicap Pace. M-M’s bud didn’t have luck at the draw as he began from the outside post seven, but he did have racing luck, getting away third for driver John DeLong behind Golden Bay N and Trace Tetrick. He was flushed out at the half and kept on rolling, winning by open lengths in 1:49.3. Crooked Smile and Jordan Ross finished second over Golden Bay N. M-M’s Bud paid $7.80 for the win. He is owned by Ted Comerford, Alvin Miller and Marvin Schwartz. Miller trains the five-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis, who earned his fifth win in 10 starts for 2026. He took his career best time of 1:48.4 in his previous start at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. DeLong and Miller were back in the winner’s circle for the nightcap with standout pacer Tellmeaboutit, who earned his fourth win of 2026. The now 10-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis recently went over the $1 million mark in earnings for Miller and Twila Harts, who have owned him his entire career.
