One of the most highly anticipated championships in the Governor’s Cup series was the first to kick off the day Wednesday, August 19. Two-year-old filly pacers lined up behind the gate with a big matchup between Sassie Kassie and Bella Notte, both of which had only experienced one defeat all season. In addition to those two fillies, the field included Velmissfoxyshooter, the only one to defeat Sassie Kassie this year and has not been off the board this year in nine starts. In the end, it was Sassie Kassie who claimed the title in the $25,000 final and equaled the Governor’s Cup record in 1:55.0. Sassie Kassie began from post four for driver Kevin Lambright and used just enough early speed to grab the two hole behind Velmissfoxyshooter and Mike Peterson who fired out for the lead. Bella Notte and Joey Putnam got away in third as the field passed by the first quarter in :28.0. It didn’t take long for Lambright to pull the pocket and send Sassie Kassie to the lead, settled in on top before the half in :57.3. As the field disappeared behind the trees in the infield, Sassie Kassie was still in the lead and Bella Notte had pulled first over and was inching up. When the field came back in sight, Sassie Kassie had a three-length advantage on the rest of the fillies, and maintained that advantage into the lane. In the stretch, Sassie Kassie pinned her ears and was all business, traveling home in :29.0 to score the win by two lengths. Velmissfoxyshooter came back and finished well for second with GD Captain Win and Michael Detweiler rounding out the top three. Sassie Kassie is a freshman daughter of Capt Midnight. She is owned and trained by Kassandra Lambright and was acquired by the Lambrights this spring from breeder Freeman Bontrager of Topeka, Ind. It was the biggest paycheck of the young filly’s career, boosting her bankroll to more than $25,000 with the win. It was also her career best effort, which equaled the time posted by Northern Nightstar and Kyle Wilfong earlier in the day in the $10,000 Governor’s Cup Consolation for two-year-old filly pacers. Another contender who completed a stellar season in the Quest for the Governor’s Cup Championships was three-year-old pacing filly It Liz Again, driven by Mike Peterson. The Highalator filly sat patiently in the two hole before taking over at the head of the lane and pacing home for the five and three-quarter length win in 1:53.1. Rita’s Girl, who led the division by points and driven by Kevin Detweiler, finished second over Ambehaving and Kevin Lambright for third. It Liz Again is owned by Chris Choros and Therl Hensley. Gerald Miller trains the filly, who is a home bred for Choros. It was her third straight win and her fourth during the preliminary rounds of the Governor’s Cup Championship. It was also a new career best for the sophomore pacer as she moved her career bankroll over the $60,000 mark. The biggest surprise on the day came in the three-year-old trotting filly division. Precisely, driven by Kevin Detweiler, came into the Championship in the final spot, ranked eighth on the list of qualifiers for the championship. Other divisional winners in the Governors Cup Championships included JK Barbar (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding pacing action, Cool Manner (Kevin Detweiler) in the two-year-old filly trot, Hidden Talent (Clint Coy) in two-year-old colt and gelding trotting action, Charging Thunder (Mike Peterson) in the three-year-old colt and gelding pacing division, Precisely (Kevin Detweiler) among three-year-old filly trotters, and Don’t Tell Anyone (Kevin Detweiler) in the final division for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The Helpisontheway filly sat in mid pack before pulling out and going three-wide in the final turn. As they field headed down the stretch, Precisely took over and held her ground from Canipilotall and Clint Coy to win by a half length in 1:58.0. Topville Ideal finished third. Precisely is owned by Twoforone Stable and trained by Robert Wyman. Oakwood Farms bred and raised the filly, who earned her third win of the season and her sixth overall. The mile was also a new lifetime mark for Precisely.

Photo of Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron by Dean Gillette Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron scored their second straight win Tuesday, August 18 in the $9,200 Two-Year-Old Conditioned Claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired pacer fought hard all the way down the stretch to score the win in 1:55.4. Rockin Pet began from post six and was on the gate and ready to go when the wings opened. He left the gate but didn’t want the front end and got in behind Float Show and Brandon Bates seeking a spot near the front. Float Show went onto the lead and Rockin Pet was able to squeeze in behind Brutally Frank and Jordan Ross in the three hole. The first quarter was clocked in :28.4 with the field staying in single file through the half in :59.1. Brutally Frank tried to move out to press Float Show, but he picked up the pace around the final turn and continued to lead the way. The top two were more than three lengths ahead of Rockin Pet, who was saving ground along the inside. In the lane, Float Show began to come back to the rest of the field. Waldron was able to squeeze Rockin Pet between horses and got to the wire first in a three-way photo, winning by a neck over Dancin Differently and Cristian Pacheco, who closed on the outside for second. Brutally Frank was another neck back in third on the inside. Rockin Pet paid $5.00 for the win. The son of Pet Rock, and part of the sire’s first Indiana crop after a successful career in Ohio, is owned by W & W Farms and Ricky Macomber Jr., who also trains. John Miller bred and raised the gelding, who is now two for four in his brief career. Rockin Pet’s best career time was recorded in his previous outing in a time of 1:55.1 the week before. He was part of the Wittmer Standardbreds consignment last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was purchased for $5,000. He is the first foal of the Bettor’s Delight mare Persistant Xample, a winner in 1:53 with $117,000 on her card. She has a yearling filly this year by JK Endofanera named JKs Example. In the filly division of the conditioned claimer, it was two-year-old Loveme or Leaveme and Daryl Bontrager who earned the win, leading the field gate to wire in 1:55.3. The Best in Show filly paced home in :28.4 for the one and one-half length advantage over Tellmefirst and Travis Seekman. Blue Balou and John DeLong finished third. Loveme Or Leaveme paid $13.60 for the win. She is a homebred owned and bred by Ira Steinberg. It was the seventh start for the filly and her first career win.

Former Indiana Sired Fair Circuit contender Kitalpha added another win to her credentials Monday, August 17 in the $5,600 conditioned pace at Monticello Raceway. Guided by Michael Merton, the Indiana pacer scored the win in convincing fashion in 1:56.0. Kitalpha left the gate from post two and attempted to head to the lead, but Proudamericangirl and Ralph Silvestri III also left for the lead to her inside. Anne Bonney N and Bruce Aldrich Jr. rallied from the outside of Kitalpha and used a big surge to land on the front end followed by Proudamericangirl and Kitalpha. The opening quarter was paced in :27.4 before Anne Bonney N was able to back the tempo down to the half in :57.3. First of Her Name and Jim Taggart Jr. were the first to pull to the outside with Kitalpha also getting out to endure a first over journey the second half. Around the final turn, Kitalpha and Anne Bonney N were locked in a big battle before the stretch. Once they had straightened out, Kitalpha went right on by, winning by one and one-quarter lengths over Anne Bonney N, a New Zealand bred daughter of former Indiana stallion Net Ten EOM. Proudamericangirl finished third. Kitalpha paid $8.28 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus is owned by Clifford Grundy and trained by Tammy Sowers, who acquired the mare earlier this year. Alvin, Dessa, and Zach Miller bred the mare from their broodmare Pacific Sun Rae, who earned more than $323,000 during her racing career for the Miller barn and took a mark of 1:51.4. She has been a solid brood mare for them, producing six starters from seven foals of racing age, including three-year-old Sun Rae’s Triumph, who has already taken a mark of 1:53.3 this season. She also has a yearling filly by Southwind Ozzi named Ozzi Rae. The Monday win for Kitalpha was a new lifetime mark of 1:56.0. She now has 15 career wins from 64 career starts and boosted her bankroll to more than $61,000 with her latest win, one of eight on the year for her current connections. The Monday program at Monticello was capped off by another Indiana winner as Dash N Cache and Ralph Silvestri III scored a win in the $7,300 conditioned pace. A seven-year-old daughter of Aracache Hanover, Dash N Cache led the field gate to wire for the win in 1:55.0. KJ Becky and Jim Taggart Jr. finished a length and three-quarters back in second followed by Beantown Babe and Bruce Aldrich Jr. for third. Dash N Cache paid $2.12 as the favorite of the field. She is owned by Godinez Racing Stable and trained by Jose Godinez. It was her 16 th career win and her seventh of 2026. Her career best time of 1:51.4 was taken at Tioga Downs as a six-year-old and she now has a bankroll of $138,000.

ER Rocky and Marvin Luna used a late move to score the win Sunday, August 16 in the $5,700 conditioned pace, scoring the victory in a time of 1:51.2. The Indiana sired pacer bested a field of 10, including several fellow Indiana sired competitors. ER Rocky began from the far outside post and left the gate with some speed. However, he was caught up in a herd of horses trying the same strategy and was wide heading into the first turn, eventually finding a seat in the seven hole. At the front, Just Plain Loco and Jamaal Denson had settled in on the top, passing by the quarter in :26.4. As soon as the backstretch arrived, Indiana sired Isitlikeittell and Josh Sutton were out and on the move, sliding over to the top spot before the half in :55.0. Near the back of the pack Frozen Shark and Atlee Bender moved out first, and ER Rocky followed suit, hoping for a second over journey. But the move from Frozen Shark prompted others to the outside leaving ER Rocky fourth over led by Rollin Dice and Zyler Maxwell. The field was bunched up and moving as the stretch arrived. In the stretch, horses were spread out across the track and it was anyone’s race to win. ER Rocky was the widest of all and he never gave in, pacing home in :28.0 over the fast track for the win by one length. Isitlikeittell finished second over Rollin Dice. ER Rocky paid $8.08 for the win. The eight-year-old son of Aracache Hanover is owned by Trent Stohler Stable, Tim Graber, and John Grubich. Stohler trains the veteran pacer, who is a product of Don and Rosie Eash’s breeding operation in Indiana and from their foundation brood mare Rock Ann Rolling. ER Rocky now has 26 wins from 145 starts. His career best time of 1:49.2 was taken as a four-year-old. He has been with the Stohler barn the past year and a half and has won eight races for his connections. He is moving closer to the $300,000 mark in career earnings. Also a winner on the day at The Red Mile was Indiana freshman Era Dominance, who is dual eligible to Indiana and Kentucky. The JK Endofanera filly led gate to wire for Luna, pacing home in :25.3 for the win in 1:51.1. Nzinga and Yannick Gingras finished five and three-quarter lengths back in second followed by Shezaloadedbet and Dexter Dunn in the $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series, which is in its second leg. Era Dominance was the favorite of the field, paying $3.80. She is owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock. She is now undefeated in two starts and the mile was a career best. Only six races were completed at The Red Mile before heavy rains set in, canceling the remainder of the card. The remainder of the program was moved to Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Mile. The program will be held after the regularly scheduled racing card begins at 1 p.m.

Photo by Dean Gillette Trainer Alvin Miller has campaigned many sub 1:50 performers during his career. Now, he can add another one to the list. King Tellit and Marcus Miller rallied home as the winners of the George Wilkes Series Final Saturday, August 15 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in a time of 1:49.3. King Tellit got away in third from post three and remained there the entire mile. What Nooo Waaay and John DeLong set the tempo with fractions of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.4. In the lane, King Tellit took over and left the field at his heels, pacing home in 26.1 to win by four lengths in 1:49.3. Steel Cowboy and Travis Seekman finished second over Testyourluck and Brandon Bates, the longest shot on the board for third. King Tellit was the favorite, paying $3.80 for the win. The three-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis is owned by Ted Comerford, Alvin Miller, and Marvin Schwartz. Devon Knepp bred the colt, who was sold from the 3-D Farms consignment at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, purchased for $60,000 by Alvin Miller. He is the first foal from the Grand Circuit winner Bahama Blue, who had a mark of 1:51.0 and earned more than $200,000. She is a daughter of the great Isabella Blue Chip, a winner in 1:51.2 with nearly $800,000 on her card. It was the second win of the season for King Tellit and his fifth overall. He now has more than $84,000 on his card. In the fillies and mares series final on the night, Treacherous Woman and Kyle Wilfong turned in a near gate to wire effort to win the $25,000 Manley Sturgis Final. The Rockin Image three-year-old rallied to the front after the quarter in :25.3 and held her positioning to the wire as Miss Alexis and Marcus Miller closed the gap late in the lane. However, Treacherous Woman was victorious by a neck in 1:51.1. Tell Me Please and Kevin Lambright finished third. Treacherous Woman paid $2.60 for the win. She is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Mary Buddig, Janet Schwartz, and South of the Tracks Rac. Chapel Ridge Farm bred and raised the filly, who was purchased by her current connections for $30,000 out of the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. She also is the first foal from the Ponder mare Dangerous Woman and is from the standout mare Do Me Good, who is owned by Ed Engle and produced the winner, Another Mile Again, of the Fox Stake on Friday. Treacherous Woman now has four wins in 10 starts this season after winning two of three as a two-year-old. She now has more than $84,000 on her card with her career best time of 1:51.0 taken earlier this summer at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Saturday card capped off an exciting week of racing. The announcement was made Thursday that the Hambletonian is moving to Harrah’s Hoosier Park next season, the Grand Circuit was featured at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and Dandy Ideal won the $300,000 Grade 1 Dan Patch Friday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. With the cancellation of racing at Frankfort Saturday, the fields are set for the Governor's Cup Championships and Consolations set for this week at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Racing resumed at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Friday morning to complete the Grand Circuit program. It was an Erv Miller kind of day with six of the nine races going to his barn, but it was a Ron Burke trainee who took the top stakes of the day as Another Mile Again and Trace Tetrick won the 100 th running of the Fox Stake. The duo covered the mile distance in a time of 1:54.3 over the sloppy rain soaked track. Four two-year-olds lined up behind the starting gate for the Fox Stake with Another Mile Again leaving from the inside joined by Gwtrigger and Kyle Wilfong from the outside. GWtrigger was fine to move into the two hole as Another Mile Again set the tempo. Fractions of :28.0, :57.0, and 1:25.0 were placed on the board. As the field turned for home, the field tightened up and began closing in, but Another Mile Again was strong to the wire, winning by a length over Gwtrigger. Breckin and John DeLong finished third. Another Mile Again is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Knox Services, and Michael Rosenthal. Ron Burke trains the freshman colt, who is the latest product of Ed Engle’s standout brood mare Do Me Good. Another Mile Again was part of the Victory Hill Consignment in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was purchased for $55,000. The son of JK Endofanera now has two wins and two seconds in four starts. His best time was taken at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in early July in 1:51.4. His dam earned more than $435,000 during her career and took a mark of 1:52.4. The Michigan bred mare has produced 10 starters from 11 foals of racing age, including two sub 1:50 performers Rockin Good (1:48.0 and Good Rockin (1:49.4). Out of nine winners, five are six figure earners. The family has a yearling filly this year by Captain Victorious named Good to Great. Another feature on the Grand Circuit card was the $37,195 Ralph Wilfong Memorial for two-year-old trotters. Ponda Cheetah was the first leader and the last for driver Marcus Miller, scoring the victory in 1:59.0. So Joyful and John DeLong, who led during the middle fractions, finished second over Mendoza Mafia and Trace Tetrick. The Swan for All gelding is owned by Erv Miller Stable, Stepbystep Racing, and Jerry Graham. Erv Miller trains the freshman, who was bred by Pond A Acres. Action moved to Harrah’s Hoosier Park that night for Dan Patch Night. Full coverage of the racing program will be provided by the race marketing staff as the 33 rd Dan Patch brought in a full field of 11 for the Grade 1 event.

Photo of Rock of All Time and Joey Putnam by Dean Gillette Indiana Standardbred racing has a lot to celebrate. This date will go down in history as the decision and vote was completed regarding the move of the prestigious Hambletonian to Harrah’s Hoosier Park beginning in 2027. As this monumental decision was being made, many horsemen and women locally continue to deal with monumental flooding in East Central Indiana. Following a cancellation Wednesday due to excessive flooding and rains, racing was back on track Thursday with several winners picking up new lifetime marks, including Rock of All Time from the Joe Putnam barn. Rock of All Time began from post three and got away in third as Dontspankchecky and Cristian Pacheco took over the top spot followed by The Confession and Rick Plano, who took a seat at their back after the quarter in :27.4. Rock of All Time was then out and rolling to the lead for driver Joey Putnam as the duo settled in at the half in :56.0. Dontspankchecky went off stride, causing interference with several trailing horses. This provided an opportunity for Rock of All Time to get an even bigger hold of the lead around the final turn. In the stretch, Rock of All Time held steady all the way to the wire, pacing home in 28.1 fir the win in 1:52.4, a new lifetime best. Rocking JK and Trace Tetrick recovered from interference to finish second over The Confession for third. Rock of All Time paid $14.20 for the win. The sophomore son of Rockin Image is owned by JP Racing, Michael Lee, and Crazy Parrot Farm. Victory Hill Farm bred the gelding, who is out of the tough Indiana mare Fancy Desire, a former Indiana champion with a mark of 1:49.0 and earnings of nearly $500,000. Rock of All Time was purchased early in the second session of the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale in 2024 for $19,000. He is the fourth foal from the standout mare that took her talents outside of the state of Indiana for several stakes wins. She has produced several racehorses, including Hetolditlikeitwas, who has a mark of 1:51.2 with six figures on his card. It was the fifth win in 10 starts for 2026 for Rock of All Time. He increased his bankroll to more than $31,000 with his latest record setting win. Kicking off the evening racing program was a freshman trotter from the Missy Essig barn. Tipsy in Vegas and John DeLong led the field of Indiana Sires Stakes eligibles gate to wire, winning by two lengths in 1:54.3. Starboard and Jordan Ross finished second over Fifty and Famous, driven by Trace Tetrick. Tipsy in Vegas paid $3.40 as the favorite of the field. The Helpisontheway gelding is also owned by Essig and was bred by Brookside Stables. Tipsy in Vegas has now won three of five starts in his brief career and has not finished worse than third in any of those starts. His win Thursday was a new lifetime mark. Grand Circuit racing is back in action Friday August 14 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit is also back in action Saturday, August 15 in their final round of preliminary action before the Governor’s Cup Championships next week at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Only three races, besides a set of qualifiers earlier in the day at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, were contested in the state of Indiana Wednesday, August 12 with action getting underway at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Historical rains flooded Central Indiana for the second straight day, causing cancellations of both Harrah’s Hoosier Park as well as Horseshoe Indianapolis. At the State Fairgrounds, a delayed start got three races in before rain moved in again, canceling the remainder of the card. Kicking off the three races held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds (ISF) for the Grand Circuit card was the royally bred Kountry Legacy, guided by Trace Tetrick. The filly stepped up in the first round of the 90 th Hoosier Stake for two-year-old fillies, and Kountry Legacy responded. Ponda Era and Travis Seekman moved straight out to the lead with Kountry Legacy slipping in behind her. Ponda Era was two lengths ahead of the short field of four at the quarter in :28.4 and half in :58.2 as everyone stayed in single file. Kountry Legacy worked out a perfect trip moving to the outside coming out of the last turn. Once she was out, she took off, rallying home to a three and three-quarter length advantage at the wire for the win in 1:54.1. Kountry Legacy paced her final quarter in :26.1. Fantastech and Marcus Miller finished second over Ponda Era. Kountry Legacy is owned by Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher, who trains the Capt Midnight filly. She is out of the superstar mare Shartin N and was bred by Ola Yoder’s Kountry Lane Standardbreds. The filly was purchased by Pollack and Cullipher from the Midwest Standardbred Sale last fall for $35,000. She is dual eligible, also available to race in stakes in Kentucky. The petite filly is now three for five with more than $80,000 on her card. She is a Sires Stakes winner in both Indiana and Kentucky already this season for her connections. Two-year-old trotting fillies were then on the track for the first division of the 90 th Hoosier Stake. Intricate Dance and Doug Rideout powered out from the outside and had the lead position secured heading into the first turn. Fractions of :30.0, 1:00.3, and 1:30.2 were placed on the board by Intricate Dance before Savings Account and Marcus Miller moved to the outside to challenge. The two fillies battled their way down the stretch with Intricate Dance holding onto the lead at the wire, a half length winner over Savings Account. Satin Serenade and Derek Hooley finished third. Intricate Dance, a daughter of Temporal Hanover, is owned by Julie Rideout, Dr. Alan White, and Dave Gamble. Doug Rideout also trains the filly who was bred and raised by Jared Fry and Myron Petersheim. It was the filly’s third win in six starts. The second division of the Hoosier Stake for two-year-old fillies brought in a surprise winner as Brookview Hershey and Kevin Detweiler led the field gate to wire for the win. Fractions of :28.4, :57.3, and 1:26.3 were placed on the board as Brookview Hershey dominated the field, posting a three and one-quarter length advantage at the wire in 1:56.0. Prazana and Dan Shetler finished second over Secret Shadow and Marcus Miller. It was the first win of her career for Brookview Hershey as storms lurked nearby. The Swan for All filly is owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber, and Stephen Stoll. Leander Schwartz trains the filly, who was bred by John Miller. That was the final race for the day as the program went into a weather delay with lightning in the area. The remainder of the card will be moved to Friday, August 14 beginning at 10 a.m. This includes the Fox Stake as well as the Ralph Wilfong Memorial among the nine races moved to Friday. The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit holds its final preliminary round for the Governor’s Cup Championships next week at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Frankfort. Racing begins at 11 a.m. for the final leg in the Quest for the Governor’s Cup.

Photo by Dean Gillette Ameelio with Robert Taylor in the bike earned her first career win Tuesday, August 11 over very sloppy conditions at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The trotting filly scored her win in a time of 1:58.1. Starting from post four, Ameelio rallied out to the lead from the gate and was the first leader heading into the first turn before being overtaken by Help This Lady and Peter Wrenn before the quarter in :28.4. From there, she stayed tucked in behind the leader through fractions of :59.3 and 1:29.1. At the head of the lane, she found the room she needed to advance and went to work, trotting home in :28.2 for the win by two and one-quarter lengths well under wraps by Taylor. Flirt Dover and Jordan Ross closed for second with Help This Lady holding her ground for third. Ameelio paid $14.20 for the win. The Rebuff daughter is owned by Fourfifty Racing, Terry Miller, and Ryan Miller. Lonnie Helmuth trains the filly, who was making her fourth career start. The dual eligible filly to both Indiana and Kentucky, was a $9,000 purchase last fall at the Midwest Classic Yearling Sale. She is the fourth foal from the Explosive Matter mare Ameliosi, who took a mark of 1:54 and earned more than $300,000 during her racing career. In addition to Ameelio, who is now her fastest performer, she has produced Regina George, a winner in 1:59.3 and still racing. A few races later it was Pete and Repeat in the Trackmaster Rating race. Driven by Matt Krueger, the Freaky Feet Pete gelding got away toward the back of the pack as Dating A Virgin and Trace Tetrick established fractions of :26.3 and :56.1 up front. Pete and Repeat began moving up on the outside and endured a first over journey to the head of the lane. In the stretch, Pete and Repeat battled gamely with Wise Thinking and Stephen White, finally getting the edge at the wire for the win by a neck in 1:53.2. R Tyler Towne and Cordarius Stewart finished third. Pete and Repeat paid $10.40 for the win. The five-year-old is owned by Green Acres LLC, Mike Klimas, and David Nielsen. Gregory Klein trains the home bred, who earned his first win of 2026 in the race. Overall, he has six wins and a mark of 1:52.4 taken at Hawthorne last season. He was unraced at two.