The petite Speed Beeman powered his way to the wire first, fending off multiple challengers in the stretch for the win in 1:54.1. The Indiana freshman was guided by Kevin Lambright in his first career win Wednesday, September 9 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Speed Beeman began from post four and used early speed to get into the two hole behind the bigger, bulkier JKs Forreal driven by Kyle Wilfong. The first panel was posted as :27.4 as the field settled in single file behind the top two.
JKs Forreal was still in command at the half in :58.4, enjoying a breather before picking the tempo back up around the final turn. Race favorite Hold Fast and Atlee Bender began moving up slowly on the outside of Speed Beeman, which kept him tucked in tightly behind JKs Forreal. In the stretch, Speed Beeman was able to find room along the inside and sprinted through to get by JK Forreal. However, Hold Fast was also closing in the lane. Those two matched each other’s strides until Im a Fire Truck and Marcus Miller came closing in quickly on the outside. In the end, Speed Beeman was able to get to the wire first for the win by a head over Im a Fire Truck. Hold Fast finished third.
Speed Beeman paid $8.60 for his first career win in his third career start. The Tellitlikeitis gelding is owned by Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver. Missy Essig trains the freshman, who was bred and raised at Victory Hill Farm. Speed Beeman was purchased by the Essig Stable last fall under the name Tell of All Time for $33,000. He has a yearling half sister by Rockin Image named Rockin Speed Too that will sell in this year’s Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale as part of the Victory Hill Farm consignment, located in Aisle 1 of the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Speed Beeman is a half brother to the standout pacer Rockin Speed, a winner in 1:49.1 with more than $665,000 in earnings. The family also includes JK Standingovation, a winner in 1:51.1 with $175,000 in earnings.
Earlier in the evening, Ponda Thirty and Kyle Wilfong turned in a gate to wire effort for the win in 1:52.4 in the conditioned claiming event. Trained by Jay Hochstetler, the American Ideal gelding paid $12.80 as the winner by three and three-quarter lengths over Mocha Macchiato and Marcus Miller. Skyway Victress and Trace Tetrick finished third.
Ponda Thirty is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig, Allen Schwartz, and former Major League baseball player Dan Plesac.
