Sophomore Stakes headline Hoosier’s Friday card
At 3h08, on October 30, 2025 • By Jacob Rheinheimer, Harrahs Hoosier Park
Some of the sport’s biggest names will make their way to Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Oct. 31) as a quartet of six-figure stakes races four all four three-year-old divisions highlight the 13-race program.
With a first post of 5:30 p.m., the four Grand Circuit events will conclude the evening beginning in race 10 with the $185,000 Carl Erskine for trotting colts which features On To Norway in search of his 19th consecutive victory. Established as the 3-2 morning line favorite in the field of 10 with regular pilot John De Long slated to drive, the Ron Burke trainee has not tasted defeat since his three-year-old debut on April 3 of this year. In the time since, the Muscle Massive gelding has swept all eight legs and the $250,000 Super Final of Indiana Sire Stakes, to go along with stakes wins in the Phil Langley Memorial and Pegasus in his last outing. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black & White Stable and Michael Rosenthal, On To Norway has racked up $449,344 in seasonal outings during his streak.
The Jugette Champion Rodeo Drive Deo has been tabbed 3-1 morning line choice in the $113,750 USS Indianapolis Memorial which will serve as the 11th race on the program. Saddled with the outside post nine, the Ron Burke trained daughter of Captaintreacherous makes her way to Hoosier Park after a traffic-troubled fourth-place effort in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Final last out. Hall of Fame driver David Miller will once again have the call on the morning line choice as she takes on third place Breeders Crown finisher Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners, Post 7) and Can’ttouchthese (John De Long, Post 6) who romped by five in the Pegasus in her last out as the co-second choices at 9-2 on the morning line.
The $131,500 Crossroads of America for three-year-old filly trotters in Race 12 has Divine Thing enlisted as the 5-2 morning line choice following her 1:53.4 victory in the Pegasus in her last at Hoosier Park. Leading driver Trace Tetrick will be aboard the daughter of Greenshoe from the Steve Carter barn as she reignites her rivalry with Indiana Sire Stakes champion, Miracle Maven (John De Long, Post 8) who was second to Divine Thing in the Pegasus.
The main event of the evening in the finale is the $172,500 Monument Circle for three-year-old pacing colts where Messenger champ Twisted Destiny takes on nine other foes as the slight 3-1 favorite. Dexter Dunn’s choice of three in the field, Twisted Destiny has won six of 15 this year for trainer Chris Ryder and the royally bred son of Bettor’s Wish-Tug River Princess has banked $387,986 on the year. He’ll be joined by Cane Pace champion Captain Optimistic (Scott Zeron, Post 6) who enters off a third place effort behind Sippinonsearoc in the Breeders Crown at Mohawk, and Little Brown Jug runner-up Odds On Outlier (Peter Wrenn, Post 3) in the glamour boy shoot out.
There will be a $15,000 guarantee on the all-stakes Late Pick 4 (races 10-13) in addition to the $10,000 guarantee on the Late Hoosier High-5 (race 13) on the Monument Circle.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park currently races on a Wednesday-Saturday schedule before dropping down to Thursday-Saturday beginning Nov. 13. Harrah’s Hoosier Park will be off for Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) before concluding the 2025 meet with closing weekend on Nov. 28 and 29. First post daily is 5:30 p.m.
