Indianapolis, IN --- Blooming Genius brushed to the lead at the half-mile marker and was never caught on his way to a 1:55.3 score in the $45,738 Fox Stake for 2-year-old open pacers on Wednesday (Aug. 14) at the Indiana State Fair.
Dave Magee was in the bike for trainer Todd La Fountaine and owner Lawrence Gary as the son of Quik Pulse Mindale-Hasty Dewar won for the third time in four career starts, while pushing his lifetime bankroll close to the $50,000 plateau.
Tighten Up (Ed Hensley) left from the outside post in the field of five and was on top at the opening quarter in :28 with Blooming Genius sitting third at the rail.
Magee pulled his colt off the wood on the backstretch and took over the lead by the half-mile marker in :57.1. From there he set a moderate third quarter clocking of 1:26, before kicking home in :29.3 to trip the finish line timer in 1:55.3.
Tighten Up held on for second, one length behind the winner, with Corner Yankee (Chip Noble) another quarter-length behind in third.
Also on the all-stakes card was the $37,339 Horseman Stake-Ralph Wilfong Trot for freshman open trotters. In that event, Perretti Racing Stable's Toss Cartwright overcame a first over trip to score in 1:58.3 for driver Trace Tetrick. The Muscles Yankee-Toss Up juvenile is trained by Chuck Sylvester.
Eilan's Shadow (Brandon Bates) was the early leader in this event, taking the field to the opening quarter in :28.3 before yielding to Don Swan (Peter Wrenn) at the :59 half-mile marker.
Don Swan continued to lead past the 1:28.3 three-quarter pole, but was being pressured by Toss Cartwright, who was just a half-length behind on the outside.
Toss Cartwright brushed to the lead on the final turn, opened up 2-1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch and drew off to a five length triumph in 1:58.3. Eilan's Shadow came back to finish second, while Bo Lee Brook (Brad Hanners) finished third.
The victory was the second in just three lifetime starts for Toss Cartwright, a $50,000 yearling purchase at the 2012 Standardbred Horse Sale.
Also on the card were six divisions of the Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits and four divisions of the Horseman Stake for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
In the Hoosier Stakes the winners were:
- $11,992 2-year-old filly trot division -- Simply Class (Chocolatier-Minnesota Karen); owners Joe Putnam and Novi Trot LLC/trainer Joe Putman/driver Joe Putnam; 2:01.4
- $12,192 2-year-old filly trot division -- Donato's Peach (Donato Hanover-Centerfold Kosmos); owners Christopher Beaver, Leo Fleming and Steven Zeehandelar/trainer Christopher Beaver/driver Peter Wrenn; 1:59.4
- $22,095 2-year-old filly pace -- Pancakes (Sand Shooter-True To Blue); owner Parent Racing Stable/trainer Doug Hinklin/driver Ed Hensley; 1:55.2
- $22,942 2-year-old colt pace -- Sports Sinner (Western Ideal-Ms Christine Fra); owner Perkins Racing Stable/trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr./driver Dan Noble; 1:57.4
- $13,286 2-year-old colt trot division -- Justice Jet (Justice Hall-Salida Hanover); owners William De Long, Wm Patrick De Long, Roger Welch and Gordon Wright/trainer Roger Welch/driver Ed Hensley; 1:58.3
- $13,286 2-year-old colt trot division -- Broadway Phantom (Broadway Hall-Luxury Bi); owner Larry Farley/trainer Steve Boroff/driver Tyler Smith; 2:00.4
The Horseman Stakes winners were:
- $26,854 3-year-old colt pace -- Real Rocker (Rocknroll Hanover-Real Successful); owners Peggy Carter, Robert Reid, Chuck Grubbs and Steve Carter/trainer Steve Carter/driver Tyler Smith; 1:51.1
- $29,384 3-year-old filly pace -- Velocity Sandy (Art's Chip-Trelise Hanover); owners Velocity Standardbreds, Steven McCauley, Randy Reynolds and Keith Leitschuh/trainer Mark Evers/driver Mark Evers; 1:55
- $22,784 3-year-old filly trot -- Call Me Star (Keep It A Secret-Ching'sloosechange); owners Gregory Culley, John Merkel and Vaun Warner/trainer John Merkel/driver Neil Coleman; 1:59.4
- $31,639 3-year-old colt trot -- Longwell (Yankee Glide-Minibar); owners Dan and Jo Shetler/trainer Dan Shetler/driver Dan Shetler; 1:55.2