Indiana Sires Stakes champions crowned

Sunday, October 14, 2007 - from Indiana Downs

Shelbyville, IN --- Four freshman champions were crowned at Indiana Downs on Saturday evening, October 13, as the track played host to a quartet of Indiana Sires Stakes finals. Favorites Mya Tri and ABC Mercedes swept the $80,000 contests for trotters while the pacing events were won in upset fashion by Blueridge Finance and LBS Scootin Coffee.

Filly trotter Mya Tri completed a perfect season for owners Bob Wientjes and Walter Haynes, Jr., wiring the field to add her second ISS championship by 6-1/2 lengths. The Pining For A Tri 2-year-old was guided to her 11th victory of the season by Haynes and is trained by his wife, Sara. The time of 1:58.3 equals her lifetime best performance. Deputy Julianna finished second for driver Mike Hollenback and Princess, trained and driven by Joe Putnam, was third.

“She’s one of the best I’ve ever had,” Haynes said of the filly. “To go 11-for-11 is unbelievable. To me, for her to accomplish that, it means a lot.”

The victory pushed Mya Tri’s seasonal earnings to $124,100. The freshman was bred by Wientjes, who also owns the stallion.

Larry Miller’s ABC Mercedes made it look easy in the $80,000 ISS final for freshman colt and gelding trotters. Steered by trainer Joe Putnam, the ABC Garland gelding cruised to a six length victory at Indiana Downs, stopping the timer in 1:57.4. Hesaflashysecret raced second and Sweet Joe rounded out the trifecta.

Leaving from post six, Putnam and ABC Mercedes quickly made the lead, and by the :59 first half, had opened up by five lengths. The favorites were eight lengths to the good at the top of the stretch en route to their seventh win in nine outings this season. The victory marked the second ISS final victory of the year for the gelding.

“We were rolling along with even fractions,” Putnam noted. “I wanted to put some daylight between us and play catch me if you can.”

ABC Mercedes will finish his freshman campaign with $119,500 in earnings. He is a full brother to ISS champion ABC Glory and ISS final runner-up ABC Bay Bee.

The biggest upset of the night came in the $80,000 final for freshman colt and gelding pacers as Blueridge Finance, going off at odds of 21-1, slipped along the rail to edge favorite Robin I Scoot by a length. Driven by trainer Jimmy Shelton, the V P Finance colt earned his biggest payday with a 1:54.1 performance. Dontlookatthesky raced third.

“He’s a super nice colt. He’s gotten progressively better every week,” Shelton commented. “I thought he’d be pretty good coming into the final.”

Drawing the rail in the final, Shelton was able to get away second as Mike Peterson fired from the outside with Robin I Scoot to take command. Blueridge Finance sat behind the leader through fractions of :27.1, :57.3 and 1:26.4 until the field reached the stretch. As has been customary, Robin I Scoot began to drift from the pylons in the lane, opening the door for Shelton and his charge. The Darlene Conway-owned and bred freshman responded, collecting his third win in 12 starts. The colt has now banked nearly $60,000 this season.

LBS Scootin Coffee, part of a two-filly Mickey Burke entry, pulled a mild upset in the $80,000 ISS final for freshman filly pacers. Trace Tetrick, getting the drive in the final, worked out a perfect two-hole trip and edged favored EJ’s Copperstone by 1-1/4 lengths in a time of 1:54. Femeftal Bluegrass finished third.

“She raced super tonight. Once off the gate she related well,” Tetrick explained. “I was able to get the best trip I could and things just set up great.”

Runner-up to EJ’s Copperstone in the $85,000 ISS final in August, LBS Scootin Coffee collected her third seasonal win. Owned by Three Point Acres LLC of Broomall, Pa., the filly finishes her freshman campaign with $80,090 in earnings. The winning time knocked three seconds off her previous best. LBS Scootin Coffee is a half sister to ISS champion LNA’s Dream.

Source: USTA Web site (10-14-07)