Slacker Wins Indiana Stallion Stakes at Hoosier Park
Slacker proved he is more than just a name as he rallied hard to the wire in the 14th running of the $84,000 Indiana Stallion Stakes Sunday, Oct. 23. The race was one of four stakes on the closing day racing program and brought one more stakes win to Anderson, IN owners Herb and Darlene Likens.
Starting from post four, Slacker rallied out of the gate the quickest and got the early advantage in the six furlong sprint. The two-year-old daughter of Article of Faith, bred and raised by the Likens, controlled the tempo of the race the entire way. Jockey Tommy Pompell kept her focused on the finish line and reached the wire first over stablemate Indy Pie and rider Fernando De La Cruz, who finished one and one-quarter lengths back in second. Aint She A Saint and Amanda Tamburello finished third.
“This filly (Slacker) has always been ornery, even in the beginning,” said Herb Likens. “She got in trouble her last two starts and didn’t have a shot during the race. Today, she got a good position early. That’s about where she needs to be to run her best. Tommy (Pompell) showed no fear and that’s about how you have to be to ride her.”
Slacker now has two wins in four lifetime starts. The win pushed her career earnings comfortably over the $100,000 mark for her first year of action on the track. Slacker is trained by Barbara McBride, who completes the 2011 season in fourth place on the leading trainer roster with 18 wins. McBride is ranked third on the list of all-time leading trainers at Hoosier Park.
Slacker, with jockey Tommy Pompell, winning the Indiana Stallion Stakes
Photo by Linscott Photography