Photo by Dean Gillette
Two-year-olds were scattered throughout the Tuesday, June 23 racing program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with Joe Friday kicking off the program with a big payout for his backers. The Indiana freshman scored the win as the second longest shot of the field, paying $70.20 for the victory.
Joe Friday and driver Cordarius Stewart left the gate with speed from the center of the track and headed straight to the lead. They were the first ones to occupy the top spot as Silver Crusader and Daryl Bontrager settled in behind them heading into the first turn. Prime Image and Marcus Miller, tagged as the favorites, got away in third before making a break in the first turn and losing ground. However, they caught back quick and were back in the game down the backstretch after the quarter in :26.4. Silver Crusader had circled to the lead by this point with Joe Friday having a big hold on him through the half in :57.3.
Tell’sfirstglimpse led the outer flow for Aaron Stutzman and Joe Friday opted to stay inside as Tell’sfirstglimpse flushed out El Speed Gonzales and Travis Seekman in the final turn.
At the head of the lane, Silver Crusader went off stride for a few steps, but it opened up room for Joe Friday to advance. He took the lead, but then had a couple of missteps. By this time, Silver Crusader was back on stride and moved up to retake the lead. Both horses battled each other to the wire with Joe Friday getting the edge by a head in 1:55.0, a final quarter paced in :26.4. Tell’sfirstglimpse finished third.
Joe Friday, a son of Tellitlikeitis, is owned and trained by Peter Dora of Mississippi. Ron Salcedo of Tennessee is the breeder on the gelding, who sold late in the sale during the Gold Session of the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale. He was part of the Weaver Standardbred consignment and Dora purchased him for $6,000. He is the first foal of the Captaintreachereous mare Marcela Deo. He has a yearling sister named Ensign Nellie who is by Lather Up.
It was the first career start for Joe Friday. He had only one qualifier the week before to prep for his racing debut.
Another impressive winner on the card was three-year-old gelding Some Great Deal, driven by Marcus Miller. The JK Endofanera son got away near the back of the pack, experienced some interference from a breaking horse, kept on rolling to the lead and went right on by the field, winning by three and one-half lengths in 1:51.2. He paced home in :25.2. Practical Joke and Trace Tetrick finished second over Ponda Thirty and Kyle Wilfong for third.
Trained by Erv Miller, Some Great Deal was the favorite, paying $4.20. He is owned by Stepbystep Racing, Lava Java Stable, and Never 2 Late Stable. Luckiana Farm bred the sophomore, who earned his first career win in the effort.
Some Great Deal is a recent acquisition by his current connections. He is very well bred as he is the last foal from the mare Sunflower, who has produced many racehorses, including Soaring Now, a winner in 1:47.4 with more than $675,000 on his card and still counting. He is a full brother to Some Great Deal.
