Photo by Dean Gillette
What a way to kick off Hoosier Champions with a blanket finish in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for Older Trotting Horses and Geldings. It was quite a journey for On to Norway to get there but the talented trotter knew how to rebound and grabbed the title in the $75,000 event, the first of 15 races on the program at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
The five-horse field lined up behind the gate with On to Norway beginning from post four. Just before the gate began to fold the wings, the gelding made an uncustomary break in stride, spotting the field by more than 10 lengths headed to the first turn. Flagman and Kevin Lambright were the first to reach the front, putting Ponda Jet and Kyle Wilfong to their back headed past the quarter in :27.0.
It didn’t take Ponda Jet long to reject that game plan. He was out and moving before the halfway mark and settled in on the lead past the half in :55.1. On to Norway was still 10 lengths off the leaders.
As the field moved into the final turn, On to Norway had caught up to the back of the pack, but Ponda Jet was still strong on the lead with Flagman sitting right at his back. Coming out of the final turn, the entire field fanned to the outside with On to Norway the widest of all. It was anybody’s race to win as the field headed down the stretch.
On to Norway was kicking into high gear, but so was Revin for Dallars and Jordan Ross to their inside. Both horses challenged each other for another gear and rallied together toward the wire. In the final strides, it was a three-way photo with On to Norway getting the edge by a head over Revin for Dallars. Ponda Jet was another head back in third followed by Flagman in fourth less than a length off the top three. The time of the mile was 1:52.0 with the final quarter trotted by On to Norway in :26.3.
On to Norway was the heavy favorite, paying $2.20 for the win. The superstar gelding was greeted in the winner’s circle by a large group of supporters as he was reunited with his initial groom Gracie McBride-Lopez for the Ron Burke Stable. Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal, and Black and White Stable own the four-year-old son of Muscle Massive. Bennett Farms Inc. of Michigan bred and raised On to Norway who began on the Michigan circuit before making his way to Indiana and to the Burke barn. The World Champion now has $1.2 million in earnings with his world record time of 1:48.3 taken earlier this season at The Meadowlands. After his 23 for 24 season as a three-year-old, On to Norway is now 37 for 46 life. He has only had three starts worse than second his entire career.
Indiana Sires Stakes action continued throughout the night with 12 finals and consolations mixed in. Fox Sports was trackside to provide coverage of the event, which was complemented by numerous activities trackside attracting a large crowd.
Full coverage of Hoosier Champions Night will be provided by the race marketing team at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
