Hoosier Champions set to be crowned Friday night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park

Harrah’s Hoosier Park offers its richest night of the season with the annual Hoosier Champions card on Friday (Oct. 11). Indiana’s finest will compete for over $2.4 million in purses over the course of the 15-race card, with eight $250,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, and four $70,000 Sire Stakes Finals for the aged competitors highlighting the stellar program offering a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 Indiana Stakes season.

All eyes will be on the sensational sophomore, Sabonis, as he seeks his 14th straight victory of the season in the 3-year-old colt pace final which will serve as race 14 on the night. Having only tasted defeat once on the year in 17, the son of Tellitlikeitis-Gypsy Bellevue has earned $471,000 over the course of the season which has been highlighted by victories in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, $115,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy, and $75,000 Hoosier Cup. Trained by Aaron Stutzman for owner Pat Miller, Sabonis enters off of a 1:50.1 second-over score in the eighth and final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes on Friday (Oct. 4). Sabonis seeks to stay perfect in Indiana Sire Stakes competition this season, having won all seven of the preliminary legs he has competed in this season. Sabonis has been nabbed as the 4-5 morning-line choice from post three with regular pilot Joey Putnam listed.

The second-choice on the morning-line is last year’s 2-year-old divisional champion, Tellmeitmatters, who has only lost twice this season in eight outings for trainer Roger Welch. Tellmeitmatters finished third in his first and only meeting with Sabonis this season, that came in the first leg of Indiana Sire Stakes on Memorial Day. Since then, Tellmeitmatters strung together six straight victories, before finishing fifth in the final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes in his first start after being sidelined for two-months. Bred by William C and William P De Long, the gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Art Matters will be driven by John De Long. The career earner of $344,575 leaves from post six as the 9-2 second-choice.

De Long homebreds are set to clash in the sophomore filly pace as Lets Go Endofaera puts her seven race win-streak on the line against Teelatini who has won two of her last three since joining the barn of soon to be five-time consecutive leading trainer, Tyler George. The divisional champion at two, Lets Go Endofaera has been nearly untouchable in her 3-year-old campaign, winning nine of 10 on the year for trainer Tabby De Long and taking a mark of 1:49.3 in Indiana Sire Stakes this summer. The lone defeat on the year for Lets Go Endofaera came in a fourth place effort behind Teelatini in leg three of Indiana Sire Stakes on June 29. John De Long drives and co-owns the 4-5 morning-line favorite with William C and Jesse De Long who bred the daughter of JK Endofanera-Let’s Go Higher. Lets Go Endofaera has made $292,140 on the season, and is knocking on the door of $600,000 in career earnings heading into Friday’s final.

Teelatini drew the far outside post nine in the field of 10, listed as the 7-2 second-choice with leading driver Trace Tetrick driving. Tetrick has been in the bike for both victories for the daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap since joining the George barn in September, including a 1:49.4 career best effort in her last outing in the final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes on Oct. 4. Owned by William C and William P De Long, her lone defeat since joining her new barn was a second place effort behind Lets Go Endofaera in the $75,000 Carl Becker Memorial on Sept. 20.

Other highlights heading into Friday night include Danger seeking her sixth straight victory in the three-year-old filly trot, Chandler Bing riding a three-race win-streak in the freshman colt pace, as well as an aged male pace that includes Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby champion, Little Rocket Man, taking on rivals Tellmeaboutit, Coach Stefanos and Buzzsaw Russ.

Bettors will have large pools to take aim at throughout the card, with a $7,500 guaranteed Early Pick-5 (races 1-5), $20,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (races 12-15) and $15,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 (race 15).