Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame

05/31/2026

Allegiant etched her name in the record books with a scintillating 1:48 victory in the 2026 final on Sunday, May 31 at Solvalla Racecourse, making the five-year-old trotting mare the fastest trotter ever in a one-mile race → https://t.ly/RkhdJ

Allegiant, a former North American stakes star, became the first mare in 28 years to win the prestigious Elitloppet with an outstanding world record performance at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday, May 31.

05/31/2026

Ayeaye Captain Deo and Monserrate convert in Graduate opener

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Mohawk Park
(New Image Media photos)

MILTON, ONT – The Graduate Series for four-year-olds started Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Ayeaye Captain Deo and Monserrate drawing first blood.

Both the Graduate Pace and Trot opened with a single full field division for a purse of $101,250.

Ayeaye Captain Deo and driver Bob McClure capitalized on a wicked front-end battle to sweep up for a career best 1:47.3 victory in the Graduate Series Pace.

All eyes were on Bruno No No No and Prince Hal Hanover, as both have turned heads to start their four-year-old seasons. ‘Prince Hal’ got away third, while ‘Bruno’ got away fourth. The duo would both make a move entering the backstretch, with ‘Prince Hal’ touching down on the lead just prior to a :54.1.

Driver Todd McCarthy had a decision to make with ‘Prince Hal’ as ‘Bruno’ and Doug McNair right up beside. The decision was a final-turn throwdown that saw the pacers got toe-to-toe for a :26.2 split to hit three-quarters in 1:20.3.

Prince Hal Hanover turned away Bruno No No No for the stretch drive, but didn’t have much left in the tank. The backfield got into play, as Fifth And Five and Ayeaye Captain Deo started storming on the outside.

Fifth And Five was spotted fifth, several lengths off the lead turning for home. Ayeaye Captain Deo was on his back. Both came surging in the lane to go by rivals, with Ayeaye Captain Deo delivering the most on the end to win. Fifth And Five was second by 1 3/4 lengths.

Prince Hal Hanover hung in tough to finish third. Bruno No No No didn’t quit either and was just a little more than a length back of his main rival to finish sixth.

Trained by Garry Merner, Ayeaye Captain Deo entered Saturday’s contest with two wins in five starts on the season. The son of Captaintreacherous owned by Gino Toscani.

The Graduate Series leg win, and tenth overall, will move Ayeaye Captain Deo’s career earnings to over $400,000.

With the bulk of the money coming in on ‘Prince Hal’ and ‘Bruno, Ayeaye Captain Deo went off at 25-1 to pay $52 to win.

Over on the trot, Monserrate got room up the rail late to win the Graduate Series opening leg in 1:52, giving driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Andrew Harris a second stakes win on the Saturday program.

Leaving from post six in an overflow field of 11, Monserrate was a parked out third at the opening-quarter, which saw Hey Porter leading the group in :27. The added horse making it a field of 11 made it a movement filled race, as six were along the rail and five on the outside coming out of the first turn.

Monserrate marched up to the lead in the second split before allowing Mr Mouton to clear around just after a :55.2 half. Mr Walner Fashion was left first-up and pressed Mr Mouton’s wheel to three-quarters in 1:23.3.

In the stretch, Mr Mouton did his best to fight off the outside challengers, but couldn’t keep the rail shut, tiring late and opening up enough room for Monserrate to shoot through for the victory. Hey Porter finished third, while Warrior was fourth.

A son of Chapter Seven, Monserrate was entering off a bounce back 1:51.4 score at The Meadowlands on May 15. The Harris trainee has now won two of four starts this season and is a seven time winner lifetime.

Owned by Punisher 11 Stable LLC, Monserrate has earned over $750,000 lifetime.

Monserrate paid $4.40 to win.

The Graduate Series now shifts to The Meadowlands for the next leg on June 12.

05/31/2026

BONGIORNO SWEEPS BIG M’S EXIT 16W

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
(Lisa photos)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The red-hot Joe Bongiorno ended up in the winner’s circle for both divisions of the featured Exit 16W Pop Up Series, training and driving Federer and Best Chip in the $25,000 dashes for high-end conditioned pacers Saturday night at The Meadowlands.

Federer, a 4-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous-Sweetest Emotion, left the gate quickly before yielding the top to 4-5 favorite Southwind Gendry, who cut out fractions of :26.4, :54.3 and 1:23.2, but “Gendry” took big-time pressure from Build The Wall throughout the final three-eighths, which softened him up for the stretch drive.

With a little more than a sixteenth to go, Bongiorno moved Federer out of the pocket and was loaded with pace as he split Southwind Gendry (who was to his inside) and Build The Wall (outside) to go on to a thrilling three-quarter-length score in 1:50.3, which equaled his lifetime best. Water Sports Teen closed with a rush to be second, with Kwick Sand A third.

“I wanted him to be more involved in the race tonight (as compared to recent starts at Pocono),” said Bongiorno. “He’s been pacing home really hard. I had him stirred up ready to leave tonight. He was a handful, but he got the job done in the stretch. Gendry is a really good horse, but he kind of pulls up through the turns and then he’ll sprint home, so I took my shot trying to keep my horse in there and it ended up working out well.”

Federer recorded his 10th lifetime win in 44 tries to up his bankroll to $165,710. He returned $5.60 to his backers as the 9-5 second choice in the betting.

Best Chip completed Bongiorno’s sweep after sitting a three-hole before moving off the rail to go after leader Downbythewater (who led at the half in :54.1 and three-quarters in 1:22.3). The 4-year-old horse by Heston Blue Chip-Place Your Best still had work to do when the field straightened up for the drive, but in deep stretch, Downbythewater and the pocket-sitting 6-5 favorite Voukefalas briefly hooked wheels, allowing Best Chip to sprint past them both, as he hit the wire 1½ lengths in front of Downbythewater with Voukefalas settling for third.

“(Best Chip) is just a really nice horse. The sky's the limit for him. I have high hopes for this horse,” said Bongiorno. “For him to jump up the way he has and race against the likes of Voukefalas and Downbythewater? I believe that if Voukefalas gets up the rail, he would’ve had the jump on me and he might’ve been tough to beat tonight, but, like I said, I think my horse is just getting his legs underneath him and I think he’s going to be a very fast horse moving forward.”

Owned by El Dorado Stables, who also own Federer, Best Chip racked up his eighth lifetime victory in 44 attempts. His earnings are just shy of $100,000. His backers collected a $5 payout after he completed the mile in a lifetime-best 1:48.4.

DIAMOND DAVE: Followers of Dave Little cashed plenty of tickets on the evening, featuring some attractive payouts.

The Big M TV veteran gave out the Early Pick-4, which paid $193, but Little suggested a $1 base-bet ticket (total investment, $36), which resulted in his fans cashing in for $386.

He then completed a Pick-4 sweep, by giving out the version that spans races 10 through 13, cashing in for $70.70 after another $1 base bet (investment, $36).

Finally, his biggest hit came when he touted a 9-1 winner in the 13th race (Marcus Seelster, $20.40) and a 14-1 chance in the 14th (Lunatic Fringe, $30.20). “Little’s Late Double” returned $149, but if you played along with the regular simulcast show host, you cashed in big, for a total of $447, after he mapped out a $6 base-bet play (investment, $36).

A LITTLE MORE: Bongiorno’s four driving wins and three training victories led both colonies. … All-source handle on the 14-race program totaled $2,521,742. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:35 p.m.

05/31/2026

DANDY IDEAL A SHARP WINNER IN 2026 BOW AT POCONO

ATTRIBUTION – PHHA / Pocono
(Curtis Salonick photo)

WILKES-BARRE PA – Dandy Ideal, winner of the Hempt Pace last summer here at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania in the midst of a $900G+ sophomore series battling top horses, made his 2026 debut a winning one on Saturday afternoon, winning the $27,500 top fast-class event by a length against a nemesis from last year, Twisted Destiny, in 1:49.4.

Matt Kakaley maneuvered the American Ideal gelding, coming off a 1:50.2 qualifying win at Pocono, to the lead by the :27.1 quarter, then reached the next two poles in a moderate-for-this-group :55 and 1:22.4. Twisted Destiny had to travel the uncovered route and raced well, but he couldn’t reach the Hunter Oakes-trained winner, who now has career earnings of $1,088,007 for Susan Oakes and Alan Johnston.

Ruthless Hanover, still the fastest horse ever on a five-eighth mile track with his 1:46.3 win at Philly in 2023, posted the fastest clocking of the year at Pocono, 1:49.1, in winning the $20,000 fast-class subfeature. The altered son of Somebeachsomewhere reached the top in the vicinity of a :27 quarter, then froze the timer at :54 and 1:22, before the latter station gaining from the pocket horse breaking and causing confusion.

George Napolitano Jr., driving for Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner-brother John, gave only mile vocal encouragement through the lane and Ruthless Hanover won handily. It’s hard to believe that Ruthless Hanover is now yet a millionaire at age nine, but that will be taken care of shortly, and his career bankroll is now $994,089.

There were three $17,500 contests for developing horses, one on the pace and two on the trot. Among the trotting events, the Fiftydallarbill gelding Fiftyshadesofblu won their faster division, reducing his mark to 1:54.1 while passing every split on top for George Napolitano Jr., trainer Britney Dillon, and Joseph Musser Trust. The other diagonally-gaited winner was the Father Patrick gelding Non Disclosure, who lost his cover to a break early in the backstretch but continued raw and left his field behind in 1:54.3; Ridge Warren was in the sulky for trainer David Wisser, co-owner with Rebecca Callen.

In the pacing section, the Papi Rob Hanover gelding Papi’s Rocket eclipsed the half-million dollar lifetime mark, racing on the engine and then withstanding an onrushing Heaven Needs Me by a neck in for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc. and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC.

Papi’s Rocket was one of three winners for the combination of defending driving champion Tyler Buter and Ron Burke, top trainer here five of the last six years. George Napolitano Jr. (with 15 Pocono driving win crowns to his credits) also had a triple; Ridge Warren visited Victory Lane twice.

Nine consecutive Sunday 5 p.m. twilight cards begin with the next Pocono card (May 31), with a feature fast-class trot, the return of the American Harness Driving Club of amateur sulkysmiths, and carryovers into the fifth race Pick 5 and the tenth and last race High 5. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.

05/31/2026

Brandon Blvd stellar in Somebeachsomewhere

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Mohawk Park
(New Image Media photo)

MILTON, ONT – Brandon Blvd delivered a statement performance ahead of the Pepsi North America Cup eliminations by winning the Grade 3 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Andrew Harris trained Brandon Blvd and driver Jason Bartlett posted a stakes record clocking of 1:48.1 to win the $140,500 Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old pacers. The clocking bested the previous mark of 1:48.2 set by Bulldog Hanover in 2021.

The opening-quarter of the race saw No Waitlist blast to the lead, while Sweet Lovin Lou also hustled forward, but had to settle for the two-hole with Brandon Blvd right in behind third. After a :26 opener, Brandon Blvd swept to the lead and hit the half in :54.3.

Brandon Blvd would then pace a :26.4 third quarter in effortless fashion, posting a three-quarter time in 1:21.1. The stretch drive would see the son of Downbytheseaside close things out with another :26.4 clip to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

“I asked on him a little bit at the head of the lane and he just took off…the last three or four pylons he was just shut down and I actually thought I was going a :47 clip,” said Bartlett, who was subbing in for regular driver Dexter Dunn. “What a great horse, professional, leave out of there and put people where we need to put them and then remove him. Just a professional.”

Sweet Lovin Lou angled out in the lane and got up for second over No Waitlist. Borderline Mobby was fourth. All 10 starters are eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup.

Brandon Blvd making just his second start of the season, following up a victory in the Grade 3 Paul Revere at Plainridge on May 2.

“The schedule gets so busy that you want to try and bring them in easy,” said Harris. “These horses really only race about 13, 14, 15 times a year and you got to have them ready for the right starts.”

Brandon Blvd is owned by Punisher 11 Stable LLC and now has nine wins in 12 career starts. His latest graded stakes win takes his career earnings over $675,000.

The next step for Brandon Blvd is the Pepsi North America Cup and Harris is ready to see what will happen.

“We’re just going to sit here and do what we do on the track. Beau Jangles is amazing, Odds On Mr Mamba is amazing, there’s a few other horses that are amazing. Let them do all the talking and nobody has to talk about us, and we’ll just show up on race day and see what happens.”

Brandon Blvd paid $2.40 to win.

05/31/2026

Business As Usual for On To Norway’s in his 26th Consecutive Win

By Connor Mahoney
(Dean Gillette photo)

ANDERSON, Ind—On To Norway driven by John De Long for trainer Ron Burke finishes out his regularly scheduled victory as he makes it 26 straight wins at Hoosier on Saturday (May 30).

Out of his assigned post eight, On To Norway elected to give up a little ground out of the gate as the Jay Hochstetler stablemates Operator (Marcus Miller) and Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) climbed up the ranks to get to the rail. Ponda Jet found the lead at the first quarter in :26.4 with Operator settled in behind and On To Norway pressing along the outside.

On To Norway calmly advanced into the lead on the backstretch, crossing over to the cones before reaching the half mile mark in :55.2 followed by Ponda Jet on the De Long helmet. Nearing the stretch, On To Norway continued to cruise to the three-quarter turn in 1:24.3 with Ponda Jet and Operator being his only true adversaries as the trio began to separate from the rest.

Barreling down the homestretch, Ponda Jet found an avenue on the outside to take aim at On To Norway. On To Norway countered to the inside, holding Ponda Jet at bay by a length with a :27.4 final quarter to score in 1:51.4. Operator was third, 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

The Muscle Massive gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stables, and Michael Rosenthal. The four-year-old On To Norway scored the 30th win of his career, boosting his lifetime earnings to $693,381. On To Norway accomplished his 26th straight win, having not lost since his three-year-old debut on April 3 of last year. On To Norway paid $3.00 to win.

De Long would sweep the features on the evening, coming pack a few races later to take the $22,000 FM Open Pace with Can’ttouchthese for trainer Roger Welch.

Getting the slight nod from the bettors at 5-2, De Long floated away into fifth with Can’ttouchthese on the first turn while Goo Goo Won (Kyle Wilfong) sprinted to the lead to take the field of seven to the quarter in :26.1. Goo Goo Won continued to lead with Tashish (Marcus Miller) in the pocket as the tempo slowed to the half in :55.4. Tarshish took her shot from second on the final turn, moving alongside Goo Goo Won at three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Can’ttouchthese ranging up third-over, five lengths back of the leader.

Goo Goo Won repelled the challenge of Tarshish turning for home, before facing a new threat from Cant’ttouchthese who towered off cover along with Fox Valley Lava (Brandon Bates) between mares. Rocketing home in :25.4, Can’ttouchthese powered clear in the final stages of the mile to win by a length in 1:51. Goo Goo Won held for second, with Fox Valley Lava third.

The four-year-old homebred daughter of JK Endofanera-Can’t Touch This secured her first win in three tries this season. Can’ttouchthese has won 18 of 32 lifetime, banking $569,976 for owners William De Long, Patrick De Long and Douglas Riccolo.

Racing resumes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday, June 3 with a 14-race program set to get underway at 5:30pm.

05/30/2026

DIPLOMACY TAKES BIG M FEATURE

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
(Lisa photo)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Diplomacy made his first start at The Meadowlands in 19 weeks a winning one Friday night, as the Per Engblom trainee came from well off the pace to record his second victory of 2026 in the featured $15,000 high-end conditioned trot.

It certainly didn’t look good for those who backed the 9-2 third choice, who came into the race off a last-place finish at Yonkers after an early break. Camera Man led at the quarter in a snappy :26.4 before 3-5 public choice Chapercraz took over and led at the half in :55.

Diplomacy was anything but menacing heading past the five-eighths, sitting gapped along the rail in fourth as Chapercraz hit the gas and led at three-quarters by 3½ lengths in 1:23.

Celebrity Bambino, the 2023 Hambletonian favorite, was now in motion, as Diplomacy picked up some cover around the far turn to get into contention and go after the leader. Winning driver Todd McCarthy swung the 5-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill-That’s All Moni to the center of the track for the stretch drive, before taking off and surging past Chapercraz by a head at the wire in a lifetime-best 1:52.2. Camera Man was placed third after Celebrity Bambino was disqualified for going off stride at the finish.

“I was pretty happy after the first half,” said McCarthy. “I just had to help him get around that last turn a little bit. Once he straightened up (in the stretch) he really wanted to go forward.”

Trained by track leader Per Engblom, Diplomacy lifted his lifetime numbers to 11 wins in 42 tries, good for earnings of $120,208. He returned $11.20 to win.

A LITTLE MORE: Mark Herschberger was the leading driver on the card, guiding four to the winner’s circle. … Rock On Line’s win at odds of 48-1 left several 20-cent Pick-5 players smiling. After a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 9-1, 1-1, 9-2, 3-2 and 48-1, those with winning tickets cashed in for $7,757.12. … All-source betting on the 14-race program totaled $2,359,383. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m.

05/30/2026

Th Kay C Crunch matches career best at Plainridge Park

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
(Photo courtesy of Tom Melanson)

Plainville, MA — A drop in class at Plainridge Park paid big dividends for Th Kay C Crunch Friday (May 29) after he won the $12,000 featured pace and equaled the fastest mile of his life.

Th Kay C Crunch (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead and marched to the quarter in :26.2 before Major Betts (Bruce Ranger) pulled from second to go to the front before scooting to the half in :55 flat. Positions remained unchanged until halfway up the backstretch where Cushing moved Th Kay C Crunch to the outside again and matched strides with Major Betts around the last turn. Th Kay C Crunch took about a length lead at the top of the stretch, but was far from home at that point. Major Betts found new life and closed in while Flirtin JK (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Denial (Matty Athearn) were flying from the rear. But Th Kay C Crunch stood his ground and turned back all challenges to win by a quarter length in 1:52.1, which tied his lifetime mark set at Mohawk Woodbine Park last year.

Th Kay C Crunch ($3.40) is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing and Bruce Ranger all had two wins apiece during the program.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 1) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $26,713 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.

05/30/2026

Faster Horses Seeks 2-for-2 Start in OSS as Northfield Hosts Second Leg for Sophomore Fillies

by Wes Mayberry, for the OHHA
(Conrad photo: Faster Horses)

Grove City, OH – Faster Horses has gotten faster.

“She kind of put it together towards the end of last year, but she got super aggressive and would kind of wear herself out,” trainer Chris Beaver said. “We trained her all winter, and now she’s learned to get off the gate good.”

Faster Horses is a homebred for Beaver, who co-owns the filly with Carolina Ortiz Acosta, Steven Zeehandelar, and Leo Fleming. The 3-year-old Muscle Up The Goal filly out of Fantasia Flurry hit the board six times in 10 starts as a freshman last year, recording two wins and $29,400 in earnings. Five starts into her sophomore campaign, she’s been even better.

“I’ve always had a lot of faith in her,” Beaver said. “She didn’t do a lot as a 2-year-old, but she made me think she was a good horse. She has a lot of natural speed and is big and strong.”

Going into the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore fillies on Saturday (May 30) at Northfield Park Racino, Faster Horses has hit the board in all five seasonal starts with three wins and $70,750 in earnings. She already has an OSS win to her credit, taking a division of the first leg on May 2 at Miami Valley Raceway despite a run-in with a goose. She led at the quarter in :27.1 and tripped the wire in 1:55.4.

“She ran over a goose down the backstretch, and she kept trotting, and I was super impressed with how she kept her composure through all that,” Beaver said. “I typically don’t like to see one go the first quarter that she did — I thought that would make her get weak at the end and that she would get passed late in the mile. But she’s learned to carry her speed. She impressed me that day — very few horses would run over a goose and keep trotting and still have the stamina to win the race after a fast first quarter.”

With regular driver Aaron Merriman out due to injury, Jeremy Smith will be in the sulky on Saturday looking to guide Faster Horses to a 2-for-2 start in the OSS. Despite her success thus far, Faster Horses opened as the 9-2 fourth choice in the first of two $75,000 divisions for sophomore filly trotters and will start from the far outside alongside 5-2 morning line favorite Demonic Niko (Dan Noble) in post six. The seven-horse field also includes 2026 James K. Hackett Memorial final winner Charlies Moni (Chris Lems), who will leave from the rail. It’s a competitive field, but Beaver believes Faster Horses has what it takes to win coming off a victory in a lifetime-best 1:55.1 at Eldorado Scioto Downs on May 21 with Smith in the bike.

“She’s the fourth choice, but if she drew the rail, she’d be the favorite,” he said.

“She’s pretty tough to beat off the gate, so the seven hole might not be as big a problem as it looks.”

Beaver is also the co-breeder, owner, and trainer of Cast No Stones (Trevor Smith), who opened as a 20-1 longshot in Saturday’s second division of filly trotters. Another Muscle Up The Goal filly, she scored her first career victory on May 12 at Eldorado Scioto Downs in 1:56.4 and has $37,440 in lifetime earnings.
“I saw glimpses last year that she could be a real nice horse, and she’s come back a lot better this year,” Beaver said. “She’s a longshot to win, but she’s not outclassed.”

Cast No Stones will leave from post five next to 2-1 morning line favorite Rose Run Brooke (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in post four. Trained by Vernon Beachy, Rose Run Brooke recorded a third-place finish in the opening leg of the OSS.

Sophomore Filly Pacers
Northfield is also hosting two $75,000 divisions of sophomore filly pacers on Saturday.

She’safirewoman (Brett Miller), the 2025 Ohio 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, will leave from the rail as the 9-5 morning line favorite in the first division. The daughter of Catch The Fire out of Shesasmokinlady is looking to improve upon a third-place finish in her seasonal debut in the opening leg of the OSS. Trained by Mark Winters, She’safirewoman recorded eight wins and two second-place finishes while banking $246,576 in 10 starts during her freshman campaign. Estuary (Noble) opened as the 5-2 second choice and will leave from post four. The Downbytheseaside filly trained by Erv Miller has hit the board twice with one win in three seasonal starts.

Kb Wrecking Ball (Noble) is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the second division. A winner in this year’s Hackett Memorial finals, the Deborah Swartz trainee has hit the board in all eight seasonal starts with six wins after not racing as a freshman. The Fool Me Once filly recorded a third-place finish in the opening leg of the OSS and has banked $89,125 thus far. She will leave from post two alongside first-leg winner Vanna By The River (Jordan Stratton) at the rail. Vanna By The River opened as the 4-1 third choice behind 5-2 second choice Seaside Shuffle (Wrenn Jr.).

Trained by Ron Burke, Seaside Shuffle won the OSS Scarlet Championship for 2-year-old filly pacers in 2025 and has one win in three starts as a sophomore.
The four OSS events are part of a 15-race card at Northfield Park on Saturday. First-race post time is 6 p.m.

05/30/2026

Golden Bay N shines in $22,000 Open pace at Hoosier

by Connor Mahoney
(Dean Gillette photo)

ANDERSON, Ind.—Golden Bay N, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Tyler George was in strong command to conquer the $22,000 Open Pace at Hoosier on Friday (May 29) in wire-to-wire fashion.

Shooting out of the gate in post 3, Golden Bay N spearheaded to the rail beating out the rest of the field six horse field to the opening turn. The pacers soon found their spots as Sanday A (Brandon Bates) settled in behind Ardens Ace N (LeWayne Miller), who sat in behind the leader Golden Bay N meeting the quarter in :26.4.

Racing as a loose leader on the backstretch Golden Bay N started to build some breathing room from the single-file field. Grabbing the halfway point in :54.4, Golden Bay N remained in cruise control as the six-horse field remained unchanged before the post time favorite Crooked Smile (Jordan Ross) bouncing to the outside in fifth while Golden Bay N opened up by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:22.4. Crooked Smile continued to gain ground with M-M-S Bud (John De long) tagging along from behind.

M-M-S Bud attempted a late charge at the leader; however, Golden Bay N had the door shut since the start of the race nailing the wire in 1:49.4 to win by an easy length. M-M-S Bud accelerated into second, with Fox Valley Kodiak (Kyle Wilfong) rallying for third.

The seven-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding is owned by Castaldo Racing Stable and T G Stable LLC. Golden Bay N improved his lifetime earnings to $244,203 for his second win of the season. Golden Bay N paid $8.20.

Capitalizing on a fast track at Hoosier, Rip Wheeler driven by Brandon Bates for trainer Walter Haynes Jr set the fastest mile of the meet thus far at 1:48.1in the $18,000 Open 2-3.

Rip Wheeler started out of post four, zooming to the lead meeting the first quarter in :26.1. Leading at the halfway point Rip Wheeler remained the leader at the halfway point in 53.4 despite pressure from Naturally Gifted A (Atlee Bender). Rip Wheeler lost the lead briefly before regaining the lead at the three-quarters in 1:21.0. Building steam down the stretch despite drifting out, Rip Wheeler cruised by 3-1/4 lengths on the wire over Shooting In Place (Jordan Ross) and Yourwishisgranted (Kevin Lambright).

The winning seven-year-old Rockin Image gelding is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brain Carsey, David Fought and Lili Haynes. Matching his career mark, Rip Wheeler boosted his lifetime earnings to $612,364 to claim his fifth win of the season. Rip Wheeler paid $12.60 to win.

Racing for the week concludes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, May 30 with a 12-race program set to get underway at 5:30pm. The $22,000 Open Trot in race 8 serves as the headliner on Saturday, with On To Norway in search of his 26th consecutive victory from the outside post 8.