Photo of Helps Becky and Kevin Lambright by Dean Gillette
Helps Becky didn’t need much assistance to kick off the month of racing Tuesday, September 1 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The freshman filly did everything right, trotting homme to victory in 1:57.1.
Helps Becky did get a little of an assist from post one as the gate opened. She trotted right out alongside Satin Serenade and Matt Krueger in the first few strides before that filly went onto the top. Driver Kevin Lambright was able to ease her to the inside behind Satin Serenade with Maid in Maryland and John DeLong grabbing the three hole. The field passed the quarter in :28.3 and was beginning to tighten up by the half in :58.4.
Maid in Maryland moved out to challenge around the final turn with Helps Becky remaining along the inside behind Satin Serenade. At the head of the lane, Lambright had the option to pull on the left line or the right line, and he guided Helps Becky to the inside. Once she had clearance, she trotted home with authority, posting a final panel in :28.3 for the win under wraps by Lambright. Summer Star Swan and LeWayne Miller followed her up the inside to finish second over Secret Shadow and Trace Tetrick on the outside in the 1:57.1 mile.
Helps Becky paid $20.20 for the win. The daughter of Helpisontheway is owned by Twoforone Stable and trained by Robert Wyman. Kevin and Lester Knepp bred and raised the filly who was purchased from the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale last fall for $14,000 with Oakwood Farm acting as agent for the filly.
It was a new lifetime mark for Helps Becky, who now has two career wins in 10 starts. She has been on the board in half of her outings with more than $28,000 accumulated in earnings. Her dam, Foxy Zette, was unraced but has been productive as a brood mare, with foals such as Perfect Vixen (1:55.4, $257,000) and Kody Kickstand (1:55.0, $159,000). She has a yearling colt named Swan Rylan by Swan for All who is selling in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale this October as Hip No. 171. The colt is part of Oakwood Farms consignment again, assigned to Aisles 25 and 26.
Another trotting two-year-old who was a bit of a surprise to the betting public Tuesday was Whatsa Miumiu, driven by the other Kevin in Indiana racing. Kevin Detweiler, who is leading the driver standings this season on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, put the freshman colt right on the engine, scoring the gate to wire win in 1:57.3, a final quarter trotted in :28.2. Dashing Dover and Jordan Ross finished one and one-half lengths back in second while Gotit Togo and Atlee Bender finished third.
Whatsa Miumiu paid $18.20 for the win The son of Whata Swan is owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber, and Stephen Stoll. John Barnard, who owned Whata Swan during his racing career and now stands him at stud, is the breeder on the gelding, who is trained by Leander Schwartz.
Whatsa Miumiu now has four wins in 10 starts this season and his victory in 1:57.3 Tuesday was a career best. He has spent the year on the Kentucky Fair Circuit before coming up to the Indiana State Fair for the $13,381 Hoosier Stake where he finished second. The Pennsylvania bred sold at the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale last fall for $12,000 as part of the Chapel Ridge Farm consignment.
