Starting from post two in the scratch-shortened field of six, Foiled Again and Gingras got away fourth as Foreclosure N forged to the lead for Dave Palone. Out and moving before the half, the Dragon Again eight year old advanced to second on the outside as the field reached the half in :54.4. Once on the lead, Foiled Again clicked off a :27.4 third panel before closing out the mile with a :26.3 last quarter.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, Foiled Again added another $100,000 to his career tally, which now exceeds $4.6 million. The victory was his seventh in 23 starts this season and 65th career trip to the winner’s circle. The mile shaved one-fifth of a second off the Indiana Downs track record, a mark the gelding set last season in an Indiana Pacing Derby victory.
Another track record was toppled in the $250,000 Monument Circle for three-year-old pacing colts as Bettor’s Edge and David Miller surged to victory over a fast-closing Dynamic Youth in 1:49.3. Sweet Lou, half of the favored entry, finished third.
Action was fast and furious in the Monument Circle from the moment the gate folded. Easy Again and Montrell Teague took command early, leading the field to the quarter in :26.3 before A Rocknroll Dance and Peter Wrenn moved to the top. Sweet Lou and Palone briefly held the lead at the half (:53.4) before being shuffled by Hurrikane Kingcole and Daniel Dube.
Following the cover of Sweet Lou and Hurrikane Kingcole, Bettor’s Edge and Miller advanced on the outside through three-quarters (1:20.4). In the lane Bettor’s Edge and Sweet Lou battled fiercely while gaining ground on, and overtaking, Hurrikane Kingcole. Miller and his mount dispatched Sweet Lou as Dynamic Youth came flying late from way back.
Linda Toscano trains the Bettor’s Delight gelding, bred and owned by Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farms. The sophomore picked up his sixth seasonal win and increased his earnings for the year to more than $530,000. His career earnings now surpass $600,000.
The winning time is an Indiana Downs track record for sophomore pacing geldings. The previous mark of 1:50.1 was set by Rocket Fuel in September 2007.
E Z Noah, half of the favored entry, captured the $50,000 Monument Circle consolation Saturday. Driven by Jason Dillander for trainer Ross Leonard, the Western Terror gelding stopped the clock in 1:51.3.
Upfront Billy and Trace Tetrick collared Uncle Peter and trainer Jimmy Takter in the stretch of the $260,500 Oliver Trotting Classic for sophomore trotting colts and edged in front of the leader before the wire to win Saturday night in 1:55. Fusion Man and Tyler Smith closed late to hit the board in third.
Uncle Peter and Takter fired to the lead from post five when the gate folded, leading the entry of Lindys Jersey Boy and Appomattox through an opening quarter of :28.2. Appomattox and Scott Zeron pulled from the wood and moved first up to challenge for the lead, but Uncle Peter would not relinquish through fractions of :56.4 and 1:26.2.
Turning for home, Upfront Billy and Tetrick were in perfect striking position, second over behind Appomattox. In the stretch, the Andover Hall gelding reeled in the leader, matched him stride-for-stride and dug in late in the mile to earn his ninth seasonal score for trainer William Zendt, who owns the sophomore with Ed Mullinax. Unraced at two, Upfront Billy nearly doubled his career earnings, which now stand at $293,291.
In the $50,000 Oliver Trotting Classic consolation favorite World Cup and Zeron held off Harbor Point and Dan Shetler by a neck at the wire. The Yankee Glide colt, trained by Frank Antonacci, tripped the timer in 1:56.3. (Indiana Downs)