Photo by Dean Gillette
Timber Man and John DeLong fought off a late charge by Assistant Coach and Atlee Bender to score the victory in the $11,000 conditioned pace Friday, June 5 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The sophomore gelding picked up the victory in 1:53.1, a new career best.
Timber Man began from post three and was able to get a spot up close early on as Darknstormy Deo and LeWayne Miller passed them up heading to the top spot before the quarter in :27.2. Timber Man was back out and rolling, taking over the top spot by the half in :56.3. From there, he was dominant on the front end, keeping open lengths ahead of himself and the remainder of the field.
In the stretch, Timber Man had moved ahead by three lengths as Assistant Coach came into the picture. He was rolling quickly up the inside toward Timber Man but his efforts were just a few inches too short at the wire with Timber Man winning by a head over Assistant Coach, the younger full brother to Coach Stefanos. Darknstormy Deo was on the outside to finish less than a length back in third in the three-horse photo.
Timber Man paid $11.40 for the win. The three-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman, the same ownership behind Indiana standout Little Rocket Man. Ken Rucker trains the gelding, who was bred and raised by Black Creek Farm.
Timber Man picked up his first win of 2026 with the effort, which was his quickest win to date. Overall, it was his second career win after one victory last year in limited starts. The gelding was purchased out of the final Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale by Freeman and Beeman for $30,000 under the name Rockin Herma. A name change to Timber Man placed him in the Rucker barn. His second dam is the mother of Odds on Equuleus, who took a mark of 1:47.3 and earned nearly $1 million before becoming a sire in Indiana, including his son Odds on Mr Mamba.
Earlier in the night, Golden Bay N and Trace Tetrick turned in a gate to wire effort to win the evening’s featured $22,000 Open Pace. M-Ms Bud and John DeLong finished a little more than three lengths back in second followed by Coach Stefanos and Marcus Miller for third.
Golden Bay N paid $3.80 for the win, his third in eight starts this year. The seven-year-old import from New Zealand is a son of Downbytheseaside and is owned by Castaldo Racing Stable and T G Stable, LLC. He earned 14 wins last year for the George barn and now has 18 in the U.S. with 24 career wins to his credit. Earnings are now over $250,000 for the veteran pacer.
