by James Platz

The top equines and individuals of the 2022 Indiana racing campaign were celebrated Saturday night (Jan. 21), at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Noblesville, IN. The banquet was sponsored by the Indiana Standardbred Association, Standardbred Advisory Board and Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. Filly M-M’s Dream earned Trotter of the Year honors, while Soaring Now was named Pacer of the Year in the state. Their sires, Swan For All and JK Endofanera, were selected as the top in their respective categories.

M-M’s Dream, owned by the partnership of Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables, was nearly flawless in 2022. The Swan For All filly won 12 of 13 sophomore starts, dominating in Indiana Sires Stakes action before capturing the $270,000 Super Final. Bred by Mervin J. Miller, the trotter collected $496,550 for trainer Henry Graber Jr., also securing victories in the Pegasus and Crossroads of America events at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing Casino. Driven by Sam Widger, M-M’s Dream also earned Indiana Sires Stakes divisional honors and was named Indiana Sired champion in her division.

Soaring Now led all sophomore pacers in earnings in the state last season and was selected as Pacer of the Year. The son of JK Endofanera collected six wins at Hoosier Park, five earned in Indiana Sires Stakes action for trainer Aaron Stutzman. Campaigned by James Miller, the pacer also claimed victory in the $140,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy and finished the season with $374,375 in 3-year-old earnings. Bred by Luckiana Farm, Soaring Now also swept Indiana Sires Stakes and Indiana Sired divisional honors.

Swan For All led all Indiana trotting sires for the sixth consecutive season and was tabbed as ISS Trotting Sire of the Year. He was represented by 43 starters in the Indiana Sires Stakes program, with offspring earning nearly $1.9 million in purses. Standing at Victory Hill Farm, Swan For All sired M-M’s Dream, Indiana Sired sophomore colt trot champion Ponda Adventure and Super Final winning sophomore Adamsville Road. 

JK Endofanera, also standing at Victory Hill, received his first award as ISS Pacing Sire of the Year. Last season 34 progeny started in Indiana Sires Stakes, with earnings of more than $1.3 million. In addition to Soaring Now, JK Endofanera is represented by freshman ISS Divisional champion filly Rollin Rosie and JK’s Rollin Baby.

Victory Hill Farm once again led all large breeders in the state, taking home honors for the eighth consecutive season and the 12th time in 15 years. A group of 80 Victory Hill-bred horses started in 2022, earning close to $1.7 million in the Hoosier State and over $3.1 million nationally. The LaGrange, Indiana breeding farm counted Indiana sired freshman champion Coach Stefanos as one of their newest award winners. Mahlon E. Lambright was named Small Breeder of the Year. Lambright bred multiple Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final winner Rockin Nola and Rollin Rosie. 

Trace Tetrick and Tyler George repeated as the top pari-mutuel driver and trainer in Indiana in 2022. Tetrick picked up his ninth-consecutive Driver of the Year award on the strength of 387 victories at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, earning him a ninth-straight driving title at the Anderson oval. Tetrick ranked fourth in North America in wins with 536 trips to the winner’s circle. He finished the year with more than $7.2 million in earnings. 

George added his third-consecutive Trainer of the Year award while again successfully defending his training title at Hoosier Park. Sending out 126 winners, he established a new standard for wins during a 160-dayx meet. Nationally, George secured 180 training wins, with purse earnings of $2.3 million. He conditioned Super Final winner Adamsville Road and divisional champion Rollin Rosie, a filly he also co-owns.

Doug Rideout picked up the hardware as the Indiana Fair Circuit Driver of the Year and Trainer of the Year again in 2022. He steered 84 winners at the fairs last season and conditioned 80 winners. Rideout conditioned Governor’s Cup champions Walk With Me and Mr Knowitall, piloting the latter to victory at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Pari-Mutuel Driver of the Year — Trace Tetrick

Pari-Mutuel Trainer of the Year — Tyler George

Fair Circuit Driver of the Year — Doug Rideout

Fair Circuit Trainer of the Year — Doug Rideout

Small Breeder of the Year — Mahlon E. Lambright

Large Breeder of the Year — Victory Hill Farm, Inc.

ISS Pacing Sire of the Year — JK Endofanera

ISS Trotting Sire of the Year — Swan For All

Pacer of the Year — Soaring Now

Trotter of the Year — M-M’s Dream

2022 INDIANA SIRED FAIR CIRCUIT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS (BASED ON POINTS)

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Lil Joe IV

(Luck Be Withyou—Allamerican Mobile)

Owner: Turrondus Smith

Trainer: Terry Haimes

Driver: Gerald Miller

Breeder: Karl Slabach 

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Help Dust

(Helpisontheway—Dandelion Dust)

Owners: Julie Rideout, Alan White, Dave Gamble

Trainer/Driver: Doug Rideout

Breeder: Pond-A-Acres

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Kruisin Kristen

(Tellitlikeitis—Portia Blue Chip)

Owner/Trainer: Alvin Miller

Driver: Jay Cross

Breeder: Lavon L. Miller 

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

If Not For You

(You Know You Do—Classic Filly)

Owners: Julie Rideout, Pure Cotton Stables

Trainer/Driver: Doug Rideout

Breeder: Aron Bontrager

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Virgins Beach Boy

(Always A Virgin—Cantankerous)

Owner/Breeder: Pete J. Lengacher

Trainer: Justin White

Drivers: Jordan Ross

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Lonestar Fashion

(Crescent Fashion—Northern Daisy)

Owners: Julie Rideout, John A. Graber

Trainer/Driver: Doug Rideout

Breeder: Lone Star Stables 

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Babe’s Darla

(Straight Shooting—BJ’s Babe)

Owner: Hartley Farms Inc.

Trainer: Carl Newland

Driver: Jordan Ross

Breeder: Faron Parr

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

Crescent Beauty

(Crescent Fashion—Overt)

Owners: Julie Rideout, Peter Schmucker Jr.

Trainer/Driver: Doug Rideout

Breeder: Peter Schmucker Jr.

2022 INDIANA SIRES STAKES DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS (BASED ON POINTS)

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Art It Is

(Tellitlikeitis—JNB N Me)

Owners: Dolne Farm Services LLC, 

Therese DeFabis, Mark P’Pool

Trainer: Mark P’Pool

Drivers: Brandon Bates, Sam Widger

Breeder: Legacy Acres

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Texsong Soprano

(Text Me—Muscling In)

Owners: Joe D. Yoder, Daryl D. Yoder

Trainer: Melissa Essig

Driver: John DeLong

Breeder: Abraham L. Miller

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Rollin Rosie

(JK Endofanera—Rock N Roll Baby)

Owners: SCP Stable, Tyler George, Greg Samples

Trainer: Tyler George

Drivers: Jordan Ross, Trace Tetrick, Dexter Dunn

Breeder: Mahlon E. Lambright 

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

Yo Beth D

(Helpisontheway—Scented Roses)

Owner: Greg Luther Racing LLC

Trainer: Todd Luther

Driver: Trevor Smith

Breeder: John A. Schmucker

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Soaring Now

(JK Endofanera – Sunflower)

Owner: James D. Miller

Trainer: Aaron Stutzman

Drivers: Andy Shetler, Joey Putnam

Breeder: Luckiana Farm

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Ponda Adventure

(Swan For All—Wildflower)

Owners: Engel Stable of IL, Louis Willinger, Jerry Graham

Trainer: Erv Miller

Driver: Trace Tetrick

Breeder: Pond-A-Acres

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Marvelous Marshia

(Always A Virgin—Honey’s Luck)

Owners: Bo DeLong, Pat DeLong, Mia DeLong, Marsha Lewis-Veitia

Trainer: Roger Welch

Driver: John DeLong

Breeders: Marc A. Bontrager, Maynard Lee Bontrager

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

M-M’s Dream

(Swan For All—Trading Places)

Owners: Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, Hillside Stables

Trainer: Henry Graber Jr.

Driver: Sam Widger

Breeder: Mervin J. Miller

AGED MARE PACE

Rockin Nola

(Rockin Image—Gottogetoutmore)

Owners: J P Racing, Suttons Bay Racing

Trainer: Joe Putnam

Driver: Joey Putnam

Breeder: Mahlon E. Lambright

AGED MARE TROT

Ima Diamond Babe

(Guccio—I Will Take Credit)

Owner: Cheyenne Yoder

Trainer: James Yoder

Driver: Atlee Bender

Breeder: Merle E. Yoder

AGED STALLION/GELDING PACE

Tellmeaboutit

(Tellitlikeitis—Portia Blue Chip)

Owners: Twila Harts, Alvin Miller

Trainer: Alvin Miller

Driver: Mike Oosting

Breeder: Lavon L. Miller 

AGED STALLION/GELDING TROT

Predator And Prey

(Guccio—Shaken Not Stirred)

Owner: H & H Stable

Trainer: Michael Hitchcock

Driver: Dexter Dunn

Breeder: Merle E. Yoder

2022 INDIANA SIRED CHAMPIONS
(BASED ON EARNINGS)

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Coach Stefanos

(Tellitlikeitis—Watch N Be Watched)

Owners: Kenneth Duffy, D&M Trading II 

LLC, John Stefanos

Trainer: Erv Miller

Driver: Trace Tetrick

Breeder: Victory Hill Farm, Inc.

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Jailhouse Dance

(Dover Dan—Jailhouse Diva)

Owners: Ken Rucker, Rock and Roll Stable 

Inc., Michael Shan

Trainer: Ken Rucker

Driver: Mike Oosting

Breeder: Lester A. Beechy

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Rollin Rosie

(JK Endofanera—Rock N Roll Baby)

Owners: SCP Stable, Tyler George, Greg Samples

Trainer: Tyler George

Drivers: Jordan Ross, Trace Tetrick, Dexter Dunn

Breeder: Mahlon E. Lambright

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

Yo Beth D

(Helpisontheway—Scented Roses)

Owner: Greg Luther Racing LLC

Trainer: Todd Luther

Driver: Trevor Smith

Breeder: John A. Schmucker

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Soaring Now

(JK Endofanera—Sunflower)

Owner: James D. Miller

Trainer: Aaron Stutzman

Drivers: Andy Shetler, Joey Putnam

Breeder: Luckiana Farm

THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Ponda Adventure

(Swan For All—Wildflower)

Owners: Engel Stable of IL, Louis Willinger, Jerry Graham

Trainer: Erv Miller

Driver: Trace Tetrick

Breeder: Pond-A-Acres

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Always Gonna B You

(Always A Virgin—Passing Fancy)

Owners: Roll The Dice Stable, Val D’Or Farms

Trainer: Jeff Cullipher

Driver: John DeLong

Breeder: Roll The Dice Stable

THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

M-M’s Dream

(Swan For All—Trading Places)

Owners: Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, Hillside Stables

Trainer: Henry Graber Jr.

Driver: Sam Widget

Breeder: Mervin J. Miller