Indiana-sired Hoosier Punk wins at Cal-Expo

Saturday, February 3, 2007 - by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, the Sacramento Harness Association

He drew the pole in a 10-horse field, which saw him get the perfect trip, and when room was available in the stretch Hoosier Punk (by Butler Hall) knew what to do with big money on the line.

Trotters, 10 of them to be exact, were highlighted on Friday night at Cal-Expo Raceway, in the $26,250 Nicol Tremblay Trotting Series Final, in which Hoosier Punk was the pocket-rocket.

Before starting from post position one, trainer and driver Lou Pena was optimistic, given the draw.

"I liked my chances from the one-hole," Pena said. "And having drawn the inside my strategy was just to leave for position behind Ruby Red Dress (Gilbert Herrera), a spot, as it turns out, that I would fall into."

Leaving some as planned, Hoosier Punk would lead early until yielding to Ruby Red Dress an eighth of a mile plus past the start, all while having a little luck go his way, as an oncoming TV Mom (Kennedy Lindsey), who was one of the top contenders, made a break midway through the first turn.

"I had noticed that TV Mom was kind of rough going into the turn, and when I saw her break that was great for me because it put me in a much better position than I would have been had TV Mom stayed on-stride."

Sitting in the pocket at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :29.1, Pena had no real complaints.

"The first quarter was kind of moderate, but I still liked where I was because when I looked back I didn't see Homestead Branded (Rick Plano) or anybody moving, which I figured would be perfect for me."

Enjoying the perfect trip while the field was now at the half-mile pole, timed in :59.2, Pena felt good.

"Things continued to look good because with TV Mom now first-over after her break, and with Homestead Branded second-over, I figured Gilbert (Herrera) would continue to move along on the lead with his horse, which meant that Homestead Branded would have to go three-wide at some point."

Under a good grip in the final turn, but now locked in the box at the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:29.3, Pena was now a little worried.

"I had minor concerns at that point because my horse was loaded, and for that reason I knew I needed a sixteenth of a mile to pass them. So, I figured I had to play possum to get Gilbert to scoot away a little bit. What I did was I lagged off of Gilbert's helmet a little bit to make him think I wasn't loaded. As a result, Gilbert drove on and started to drift at the top of the stretch, which gave me the inside."

Now free and moving through along the pylons, Pena now had to deal with a three-wide and brushing Homestead Branded, who clearly had a head start and momentum.

"I was concerned when I saw Homestead Branded, because if he got away too easily it would have been tough to catch him."

Under two whip taps to the seven-eighths mile pole, Hoosier Punk would quickly respond with trot and brush into the lead at mid-stretch.

"He had lots of go and I didn't even have to tap him a second time. Once I found room and saw that Rick (Plano) was under a full drive on Homestead Branded, I knew it was pretty clean-cut for me from there on."

Holding off the challenge of Homestead Branded, all while hardly urged, the Wade Miller-owned Hoosier Punk would win by one-half length, in 1:58.3, a lifetime best.

"It was very exciting for me and Wade Miller. This was the first major race Wade has won. My horse raced absolutely awesome. He's finally healthy and this is what we expected from him all along."

Homestead Branded raced well in defeat, while second, and Photo Delight (Luke Plano) had late trot, while three lengths farther back, in third.

Also on Friday, the $17,750 Ann McGregor Pacing Series Final was contested for the ladies, in which Bells To Be Rung won as the longest shot (10-1) on the board.

Getting a pocket trip, but after yielding the front after a tough lead off of a demanding :27 first quarter-mile, Bells To Be Rung and driver Jim Lackey would rally in the stretch to draw away by 2-3/4 lengths. Owned by her breeders, Bob and Loretta Staats, the Bob Johnson-trained mare stopped the timer at 1:55.1.

Lil Kim (Tim Maier), sent off at 1-5 odds, would two-move to the top through a first half-mile of :55.2, then pace to the three-quarter mile pole in 1:25.2, but would offer little challenge in the stretch to the winner after the speedy fractions while finishing in second. Wicked Beach (Steve Wiseman) finished another length back, in third.

Friday night’s handle of $1,292,535, was the highest handle to date for the Sacramento Harness Association, which took over at Cal-Expo in September 2005.

Live racing will resume at Cal-Expo on Saturday; post time is at 5:35 p.m. (PST). On Saturday, Cal-Expo will offer Dollar Night, on which hot dogs, beer, soda, and wine will be sold for one dollar, each.

Guaranteed Late Pick-4 on Friday and Saturday

Sacramento Harness Association at Cal-Expo continues to offer a $20,000 (guar.) Late Pick-4 pool every Friday and Saturday, on races seven through 10.

Source: USTA Web site (02-03-07)

Note: Butler Hall, sire of Hoosier Punk stands at Hoosier Standardbred Farm for the Breeding Season.
For more information, call: (812) 486-3929 or (812) 486-8942