The second and final round of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s 2016 All-Star Driver Series highlighted the 14-race card on Saturday evening and it was Trace Tetrick who raced away with top honours, winning his choice of a dream prize—$10,000 cash, an exotic vacation, or an “always wanted to have” toy.
Tetrick, a 30-year-old, Illinois native earned three wins and two off the board finishes during the five-race competition for a total of 79 points to secure the win. As predicted, round two was a race to the finish and came down to the last race of the challenge to separate the drivers. After the last race, Tetrick garnered six points to win by six points over John DeLong. Sam Widger, who was victorious in round one of the challenge, finished third with a final total of 71 points.
With points from round one carrying over to round two, Tetrick started with 26 points and kicked things off with a win in the opening race to earn 15 points driving G’s High Shooter to victory for trainer Tyler George. Tetrick also teamed up with George for another winner in the third race of the challenge behind Westport to record another 15 points.
After three races, Widger narrowly held the lead with 65 points while John DeLong was a close second with 63 points and Tetrick was closing in on the leaders with 58 points. At odds of 15-1, Tetrick masterfully drove Worldly Doll to victory for trainer Alvin Miller and with the win, moved in to the lead of the challenge.
Tetrick secured his dream prize with a fifth-place finish in the final race, earning six more points, behind White Fish Flash for trainer Grant Wilfong. White Fish Falls and Tetrick were on the front for much of the mile but couldn’t hold off Always Kenzer and Ricky Macomber, Jr. late in the lane. Tetrick’s six points were just enough to clench the victory.
“I felt really good about my horses coming in to tonight,” Tetrick noted in the winner’s circle. “The win with Worldly Doll was a bit of a surprise but she raced really strong tonight. I’ve driven her before so I knew a little bit about her before we went to the gate. These races were very competitive fields but all my horses raced really well and the trips worked out for me.”
Tetrick, who opted for the $10,000 cash prize option, secured his first driver challenge win at Hoosier Park and also had a total of six winners on the evening’s 14-race card. Tetrick is currently atop the leading driver standings at Hoosier Park for the 2016 season with 332 trips the winner’s circle and over $3.4 million in purse earnings.
(Hoosier Park)