Photo by Dean Gillette Watch Miss Tucky and Brad Ferguson gave fans something to watch Saturday, June 20. With a herd of horses heading to the wire, the Indiana trotter gained the advantage late to win the $18,000 Open 2-3 Handicap at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. With the rail horse scratched, Watch Miss Tucky slid over to the inside starting spot and left the gate with a little speed, but not enough to get a top spot. Calculated Concept and John DeLong to her outside had early speed and it appeared she would get away fourth but she was shuffled back as race favorite Operator and Marcus Miller got in the hole right in front of her before the quarter in :26.4. Finite and Trace Tetrick led the way to the half in :56.2. That’s when Operator and Watch Miss Tucky both moved to the outside. The field was tightly packed around the final turn with four in and three out. Watch Miss Tucky was getting a perfect second over journey to the head of the lane. She tipped to the outside and dug in gamely to get by the top ones. CS Flying Co-Pilot and Jordan Ross were stuck in behind horses and finally got room late to move up the inside. But Watch Miss Tucky had good momentum, getting the edge by three-quarters at the wire in 1:54.0. CS Flying Co-Pilot was second, just a nose ahead of ER Kelly and LeWayne Miller in the three-way photo. Less than three lengths separated the entire field at the wire. Watch Miss Tucky and ER Kelly were the longest shots on the board in the race, paying out some big prices for the exotics in the race. Watch Miss Tucky paid $30.20 for the win while ER Kelly paid $11.20 for show. Watch Miss Tucky is owned by Neil Coleman and Lloyd Schneiderman. Coleman trains the five-year-old daughter of Pinetucky, who was bred by Black Creek Farm. That’s four wins in nine starts for Watch Miss Tucky this season. Overall, she has 12 wins and more than $129,000 in earnings. She took her career best time of 1:53.1 earlier in June at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Switching gaits to the pace, Goo Goo Won and Kyle Wilfong were winners in the evening’s featured $22,000 Filles and Mares Open Pace. The seven-year-old daughter of Fred and Ginger sat in the two hole before finding room in the lane and scoring the win by a neck over Wild Rosa and Brandon Bates. Can’ttouchthese and John DeLong finished third in the 1:50.2 mile. Goo Goo Won paid $13.40 for the win. She is a homebred owned by breeder Judy Taylor, with her son, Howard, also one of the breeders on the mare from the family’s sire Fred and Ginger. It was win number 28 for Goo Goo Won, who is closing in on a half million in career earnings. She is a member of the sub 1:50 club, taking her 1:49.4 mark last season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Photo by Dean Gillette General Dolan and Trace Tetrick teamed up once again to do what they have done dozens of times before. The duo rallied home winners in the upper conditioned pace Friday, June 19 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Beginning from post one, General Dolan held his position along the inside as Play Action Pass and John DeLong shot out from behind the gate in the center of the track to take the top spot before the first turn arrived, giving General Dolan the garden spot to the quarter in :27.2. Round Here Buzz and Atlee Bender also left and chose the three hole as the field all settled into place heading to the half. American Classic and Marcus Miller tipped out first over from the back and began inching up toward the leaders, but the top three led by Play Action Pass had several lengths on the remainder of the field. Around the final turn, American Classic was getting closer but not enough to flush General Dolan or Round Here Buzz to the outside. In the stretch, General Dolan finally tipped off the back of Play Action Pass and Round Here Buzz followed his lead, also tipping out. It took the majority of the stretch to catch up and pass Play Action Pass but he got the job done, winning by a half length in 1:50.2, a final quarter paced in :26.0. Play Action Pass was nearly three lengths ahead of Round Here Buzz for second. Every horse in the field paced home in under :27 seconds. General Dolan was not favored, paying $12.40 for the win. The 11-year-old son of Rockin Image has been owned by breeders John and Robert Esposito his entire career. Tyler George has had the veteran in his barn the past six years. To date, General Dolan has 60 career wins out of 240 career starts. His career bankroll exceeds $735,000 with his career best time of 1:48.4 taken as a nine-year-old. His latest win is his quickest of 2026 and close to making him a sub 1:50 winner for the fifth time in his career. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the younger performers on the program competed in several divisions of three-year-old action for the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. Last year’s freshman standout Vel See You Later and Clint Coy turned in a gate to wire effort for a win in the sophomore pacing colts and geldings division in 1:54.2. The Highalator gelding picked up his fourth win of the season and his 10 th overall. Higher Voltage and Marcus Miller finished three and one-half lengths back in second to make it a Highalator double with Vel See You Later’s stablemate Vel Im Good finishing another two lengths back in third with Kevin Lambright in the bike. Vel See You Later paid $4.00 for the win. He is owned by King Racing Stable and Therl Hensley. Larry King trains the sophomore, who was bred and raised at Schwartz Boarding Farm in Berne, Ind. under the direction of Alvin Schwartz.
Photo by Dean Gillette It was a dash for dollars Thursday, June 18 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The veteran pacer rallied from gate to wire to win the five-eighths mile Dash for Cash in a time of 1:08.1. Southside Kid hustled out of the gate for driver Kyle Wilfong as the gate folded down the backstretch, Acoustic and Cristian Pacheco filed in behind him in second with Baby Be Better and Ronald Burks sitting outside in third through the first quarter in :26.2 for the $5,000 claiming event. Southside Kid continued his front end style through the only turn of the race. At the head of the lane, Baby Be Better was still pressing on the outside of Acoustic but Southside Kid was leading the way by open lengths. A final try by Bold and Brassy and Ross Leonard in the center of the track closed the gap a little on Southside Kid, but he was under wraps by Wilfong under the wire in 1:08.1. Bold and Brassy finished a length and a half back in second over Acoustic along the inside. Southside Kid paid $13.60 for the win. The 11-year-old son of Skydancer hanover is from the Wilfong breeding operation of Lynn, Brett, Candice, and Barbara Wilfong. Ryan Bellamy now owns and trains the old timer, who earned his first win of 2026 and his 19 th overall. Unraced at two and three, Southside Kid took his career best time of 1:51.1 at Scioto Downs as a nine-year-old. He now has more than $180,000 in earnings from 175 career starts. Southside Kid has gone through many ownership changes during his career. The claimer has been with Ryan Bellamy since early March of this year. The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit was back with some divisions for three-year-olds later in the card. Sun Rae’s Triumph and Anthony Miller turned in a gate to wire effort in their three-year-old pacing filly division to score the win in 1:53.3. Dojea Endure and Kevin Detweiler finished three-quarters of a length back in second followed by Midnight Attire and Travis Seekman for third. Sun Rae’s Triumph paid $2.80 for the win. The Best in Show sophomore is owned by Dessa, Zach and Alvin Miller. Zach handles the training duties for the homebred filly, who is out of the family’s tough race mare Pacific Sun Rae, who earned a mark of 1:51.4 and made more than $300,000 during her racing career. It was the fourth win in eight starts for 2026 for Sun Rae’s Triumph. The mile also established a new career best for the filly. The ISFC divisions slated for the Wednesday, June 17 program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park were cancelled due to weather. The Indiana Standardbred Breed Development announced earlier Thursday those races will not be made up and points will be adjusted for the series.
Photo by Dean Gillette This Captain Rocks and Robert Taylor powered over a sloppy track and beat not only the field in the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, they beat the severe weather that was traveling into Anderson, Ind. The duo was under complete control of the field to remain perfect in the young colt’s career. This Captain Rocks began from post six and rallied out to secure a spot in third as El Speedy Gonzales and Travis Seekman scooted out to the lead, passing by the quarter in :29.1 in the freshman colt and gelding pace. Everyone stayed in single file to the half in :59.3 before This Captain Rocks was out and rolling to the lead. At the head of the lane, This Captain Rocks took over and moved out to an open length advantage. In the end, This Captain Rocks was a winner by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.1, pacing home in :27.2. El Speedy Gonzales finished second to make it a Capt Midnight one-two punch with DD Endofanera and LeWayne Miller moving in for third. This Captain Rocks paid $2.80 as the favorite of the field. The freshman colt is owned by Chad Webb of Kentucky and trained by Taylor. He is now three for three to kick off his racing career. The win was his quickest to date. Harrah’s Hoosier Park quickly went into a weather delay due to a plethora of storms that rolled across Indiana with some fierce lightning. It was the beginning of the end of the racing card for the night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The only other race for the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit was the first division of freshman pacing colts and geldings with Rockalone and Trace Tetrick earning a near gate to wire win in 1:58.4. The Rockin Image gelding, trained by Tyler George, earned his second win in his third lifetime start. The mile was a new lifetime mark. Ranger Dan and Kyle Wilfong finished one and three-quarters back in second over Its My Era Now and Marcus Miller for third. Rockalone paid $3.00 for the win. He is owned by TG Stable and was bred by Richard Frey.
Rebum earns first career win
Swan Jefe and Rick Magee were in boss mode Sunday, June 14 at Running Aces. The duo upheld their race favorite status with a strong performance to win the $6,400 conditioned pace. Swan Jefe began from post five and scooted out to grab the two hole right behind early leader Bustamindagonspi and Nick Roland. Fractions of :28.3 and :59.2. were placed on the board before Spicymoneymaker and Dean Magee began to inch up on the outside prepared to challenge. Swan Jefe remained inside as Spicymoneymaker moved by on the outside. In the stretch, Spicymoneymaker took over from Bustamindagonspi as Swan Jefe dipped to the inside in the passing lane. Once he was clear, Swan Jefe trotted right by the opponents to win by two lengths in 1:58.3. Spicymoneymaker was second over Isthatevnaquestion and Mark Mintun for third. Swan Jefe paid $2.80 for the win. The four-year-old son of Swan for All is owned by Jesse and John DeLong. Justin Anfinson trains the gelding, who was bred by Lavon Miller and John McGill. It was the first career win for Swan Jefe, who had two second place finishes before his win Sunday. Unraced at two, the gelding competed at Harrah’s Hoosier Park last year, he moved to Minnesota for his four-year-old campaign. He was a $51,000 purchase by John DeLong from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of the dam Youre Majestic, a winner of more than $638,000 with a mark of 1:53.0. Another first time winner kicked off the Sunday program at Running Aces as Best in Shadow and Gary Rath took over in the final turn and rallied home a winner in 1:57.3. Allgavsumsumgavall and Nick Roland finished second over Too Much and Brady Jenson for third. Best in Shadow paid $3.80 for the win. The three-year-old son of Best in Show is owned by Gary and Kathryn Rath. Glen Borntreger bred the gelding who is also trained by Gary Rath. Best in Shadow only had four starts last year at two. He raced in Illinois last year and was at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this year before relocating to Minnesota in mid-May.
Indiana sophomore wins
Everyone in Indiana knows how great On to Norway is. Now, the entire Standardbred racing industry knows as the Indiana gelding not only won his first start out of the borders of the Hoosier State, but he set a new track record in the $50,000 Graduate Series at The Meadowlands. On to Norway was without his regular driver John DeLong and his regular groom Gracie McBride-Lopez, but he seemed to adapt well to his new surroundings. The Muscle Massive four-year-old was favored in the field of nine and looked the part. After Walspea and Jason Bartlett took over early from the gate, On to Norway was sitting in third for new driver Yannick Gingras and waiting until the quarter in :27.3 had been established. On to Norway could wait no longer and sprinted to the top to take over the lead at the half in :55.2. From there, On to Norway was in full control and was proving he was the one to overtake. At the head of the lane, On to Norway began to pull away from his opponents, winning by open lengths in 1:49.3, eclipsing the track record set by JL Cruze for four-year-old trotting geldings. Walspea finished second over Meshuggah and Dexter Dunn for third. On to Norway paid $3.60 for the win. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black and White Stable, and Michael Rosenthal. Bennett Farms Inc. of Michigan bred, raised, and raced the gelding before he was sold last April to his current connections and began his now 27-race win streak. Ron Burke trains the phenom trotter, who is four for four in 2026 to add to his 23 race win streak last season. Overall, his earings have now increased to nearly $725,000 with his win in the second leg of the Graduate Series. On to Norway’s previous lifetime mark was 1:51.2 taken last September at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. On to Norway is the third and final foal from the Donato Hanover mare One Class Act. All three, who are Indiana breds, raced, with the other two, Fear Only The One and Sheriff Longmire by Indiana sire Whom Shall I Fear.
It was a big day for new trotting stallions in the state of Indiana as two-year-olds took to the track for the second time on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit at the Converse Fairgrounds. Turns out, the very first race of 16 for freshman trotters was the quickest on the day as three-fillies were stretched across the track at the wire, giving Rebuffpinklady and Doug Rideout the victory in 2:01.3. Rebuffpinklady began from post one and shot straight out to the lead. She was joined by Satin Serenade and Derek Hooley who also had intentions to set the fractions. However, Rebuffpinklady didn’t want to give up her edge and the two fillies passed by the quarter in :30.0 before Satin Serenade inched up and took over the top spot, leading the field through the half in 1:01.0. The top two had moved away from the field heading down the backstretch for the second time. Brookview Hershey and Kevin Detweiler began to close the gap on the top two at the three-quarters in 1:31.2. Around the final turn, Rebuffpinklady was back out and challenging, but Satin Serenade was not giving in. Brookview Hershey had caught the top two and swung three wide as Track Announcer Rick Uppal said she was making it a three-way party. In the lane, all three fillies battled to the wire with Rebuffpinklady getting the edge by a head over Satin Serenade, who was a head in front of Brookview Hershey. Rebuffpinklady is the two-year-old daughter of new sire Rebuff. She is owned by Peter Schmucker Jr. and Julie Rideout. The homebred filly is trained by Rideout and she scored her first career win in only her second career start. Later in the card Hooley was able to get a gate to wire win with the family’s Diamond Popper, a son of Temporal Hanover. The colt shot out to the lead and fended off late challengers for the win by three-quarters of a length over Expressive Legend, another Temporal Hanover product driven by Doug Rideout. Rebum and Luke Miller finished third. Diamond Popper is owned by Summit Pacing Acres and trained by Byron Hooley. John Lengacher Jr. bred and raised the colt, who brought $10,000 through the sales ring last fall at the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale. It was the colt’s first win after finishing second in the first round of the ISFC. The ISFC now travels to Harrah’s Hoosier Park for four straight nights of action under the lights. Racing is slated for Tuesday, June 16 through Friday, June 19. The ISFC then moves to the Harrison County Fairgrounds in Corydon Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26.
The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) was back in action for round two Wednesday, June 10 at the Converse Fairgrounds. A total of 17 races were contested with 12 dedicated to two-year-old pacers. Among those dozen races, the state saw it’s first sub 2:00 miles as Sassie Kassie and Leapnpetesonhisway each recorded miles in 1:59 and change. Sassie Kassie and driver Kevin Lambright began from the second tier so they had a few reasons not to get involved in the early fray when the gates opened. Both Slick as Silk and Doug Rideout and Kobe’s BB and Kevin Detweiler wanted the lead. They powered out and pressed each other early before Kobe’s BB settled on the front end and past the quarter in :28.3. The field was strung out behind him with Sassie Kassie back more than seven lengths as the field moved around the second turn. When the field passed by the half in 1:01.2, Sassie Kassie had caught up to the field and was on her way to the outside, flushing cover and working out a perfect two-hold trip past the three-quarters in 1:30.0. From there, she bided her time to the stretch before opening up on the field and pacing home in :28.4 for the win in 1:59.0, the fastest two-year-old mark so far in Indiana. Vel My First Dream and Clint Coy held her ground inside for second over Slick as Silk for third. Sassie Kassie is owned and trained by Kassie Lambright. It was the first career start for the Capt Midnight filly, who was a recent acquisition from breeder Freeman Bontrager. The filly is the first foal from the Rock N Roll Heaven mare who was born and bred in Australia. She took a mark of 1:52.2 and made more than $175,000 during her racing career and has obviously passed on her skills to her first foal. Later in the card, it was the colt and geldings turn to take the track. Leapnpetesonhisway and Logan Loney rallied gate to wire to win their heat in 1:59.2, a final quarter in :29.3. JK Barbar and Kevin Detweiler finished second over Literally Rockin and Mike Peterson for third. Leapnpetesonhisway is owned by Therl Hensley and trained by Rocky Loney. The son of Freaky Feet Pete was bred by Dr. Paul and Cathy Webb. The colt is now two for two in his young career. The fastest mile for the entire day was awarded to Don’t Tell Anyone and Kevin Detweiler in a division of three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. After starting from the second tier, the Don’t Let’Em sophomore followed along in third behind Don’t Keep Secrets and Logan Loney before finding room in the lane and getting the edge over Don’t Keep Secrets by a half length in 1:57.2. You Know Dancer and Robert Taylor finished third. Don’t Tell Anyone is owned by Black and White Stable and trained by Leander Schwartz. Dr. Paul and Cathy Webb also bred and raised the trotter, who picked up his second win of 2026. His win at Converse was a new career best for the trotter. The ISFC is back in action Thursday, June 11 with two-year-old trotters and three-year-old pacers on the card. First post is 3 p.m. at the Converse Fairgrounds.
