World champ makes first start out of Indiana a winning one

Timber Man prevails between horses

Another Tim Smith trotter excelling on the ISFC

Likeit Otoole one of five winners for Driver Clint Coy

Match up between "Mamba" and "Beau"

Dragon Perfect was breathing fire heading down the lane Monday, June 1 at Oak Grove. The Indiana pacer got the jump on the field, pulling away to a victory in 1:53.4. Dragon Perfect had a perfect two-hole starting spot and used a little early speed but could only slip into the four hole at the start for driver Geremy Bobbitt. It’s a JK and Brandon Bates rallied out from the rail for the first lead and was joined by Esteem and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Lil Joe IV and Josert Fonseca. Shortly after the quarter in :27.0, Lil Joe V was on the move to the lead and went off stride in the second turn, forcing Esteem three wide to avoid the breaking horse. Dragon Perfect had started to pick up cover behind Esteem but opted back inside to get around the breaking horse. As the field moved down the backside, Dragon Perfect was back out and on the move, briskly taking over the top spot and jetting around the final turn to open up on the field. In the lane, Dragon Perfect was ahead of the field by six and only White Belly and Atlee Bender had a shot of catching him. But in the end, Dragon Perfect was a winner by five and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.4, a final panel paced in :28.4. White Belly finished a comfortable second over Indiana sired Lucks On Time and Pat Curtin for third. Dragon Perfect paid $12.74 for the win. The six-year-old Always a Virgin gelding is owned and trained by John Mungillo. Nathan Miller and Justin Yoder bred and raised the gelding, who earned his first win of the season. Dragon Perfect began his career under the direction of Perry Smith. He was purchased by Smith out of the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale under the name JN First Time for $15,000 as part of the Bluebird Meadows consignment, who acted as agent for Miller and Yoder. He was the first foal of Dragon Damsel, who earned a mark of 1:53.1. Since that time, she has produced two other winners, JN Pretty Damsel (1:52.0) and The Valley (1:54.1) and is currently racing. The family has a three-year-old colt this season named JN Dragonofthenite. To date, Dragon Perfect has nine wins and took his career best time of 1:51.1 last year at The Red Mile. He now has more than $89,000 on his card. He has been with his current connections for the past year. Another Indiana winner closed out the card as Odds on Anubis and Andy Shetler took over after the quarter and withstood the late charging bunch to win by a half length in 1:53.1. Kountry Carrots, an Indiana sired son of Capt Midnight, finished second for Atlee Bender followed by The Legend Hanover and Jamaal Denson. Odds on Anubis paid $2.42 as the favorite of the field. The Odds On Equuleus is owned by Janie Hartley and trained by Shetler. Odds on Nourrir bred the gelding, who has now won two races this season and seven overall. His career best time of 1:51.3 was taken this year in his previous win at Oak Grove.

First look at Indiana two-year-olds

Photo by Dean Gillette Customer Support and Jay Cross answered all questions in the $7,000 conditioned trot Saturday, May 30. The duo completed the month with a victory, timing the wire just right for the win by a nose in 1:55.0. Starting from post two, Customer Support had little early speed and got away in mid pack as Land of Freedom and Jordan Ross rallied from the center of the track and took over the top spot before the quarter in :27.4. Irresistible Son and Kyle Wilfong also left for the lead and took over after the quarter, settling in before the half in :57.2. Horses began to move to the outside from the back, but they were stalled, leaving space for the horses traveling along the inside path to get out at the head of the lane and gain some racing room. This group included Customer Support who made his way to the outside before kicking into gear for the stretch drive. Customer Support was so far back, he was out of the picture of the top horses closing in on the wire. He trotted his final quarter in :26.4 to hit the wire at the perfect time for the win by a nose over Land of Freedom. Dans Credit and Rick Plano held their ground inside for third. Customer Support paid $23.60 for the win. The five-year-old son of Dover Dan is part of the longtime connection of owner Ted Engel and trainer Dave White, who is based out of the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Black Creek Farm and Hickory Hollow Stables bred and raised the gelding, who was purchased by Engel late in the second session of the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $22,000. Customer Support is the second foal from the Cantab Hall mare Talkin Tootsie, who is a half sister to the tough racehorse Great Emancipator, a winner in 1:53.4 with nearly a half million on his card. The family has a three-year-old by Swan for All named Jabber Jaw and a four-year-old, also by Swan for All named Swanwayoranother that are both currently racing. Another trotter who stole the spotlight on the night is 2025 Trotter of the Year on to Norway. The now four-year-old Muscle Massive gelding trotted home to his 26 straight victory, staying a perfect three for three in 2026 in the co-featured $22,000 Open Trot. On To Norway and John DeLong took over after the quarter and held his rivals to his back, winning by one length over Ponda Jet and Kyle Wilfong in 1:51.4, just two ticks off his career best. Operator and Marcus Miller finished third. On to Norway paid $3.00 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 and raised the gelding, who has been with the Ron Burke barn since last April and has not lost a race in over a year. In the co-featured Fillies and Mares Open Pace, last year’s divisional winner Can’ttouchthese and John DeLong scored the victory in 1:51.0, a final panel paced in :25.4. Goo Goo Won and Kyle Wilfong finished second over Fox Valley Lava and Brandon Bates for third. Can’ttouchthese, trained by Roger Welch, is a homebred daughter of JK Endofanera for William DeLong, Wm. Patrick DeLong, and Doug Riccolo. It was her first win of 2026 out of three tries after winning 11 races last year as a three-year-old.

Veteran gelding scores in three-horse photo