Premier Bluebird’s Super Final victory marks multiple firsts
by James Platz
Hoosier Champions night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is known to produce memorable moments each season. Friday evening (Oct. 10) was no different. Freshman Premier Bluebird has visited the winner’s circle five times this season, but had tasted victory in an Indiana Sires Stakes leg only once. Friday, he earned the biggest win of his young career for his connections, springing the upset at 5-1 and claiming the $250,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final in a time of 1:54.4. The Super Final victory was the first for Zach Miller as a conditioner. It was also the first for co-breeder Dennis Bontrager.
“We just had to have a little luck go our way,” said Miller of the win. “It’s great. It just kind of helps validate all the work we do all year long and lets you know that you’re on the right track. It’s very special.”
Guided by regular pilot Kyle Wilfong, the colt lined up mid-pack in the 10-horse field, getting away in the same spot after the gate folded. Sunday Swagger and Marcus Miller led the field through fractions of :27.4, :56.3, and 1:25.4 as an outer flow developed, led by favorite Dan D Man Can. Wilfong slipped into line third over, and as the field raced out of the final turn, he had a clear view of the wire. Premier Bluebird closed fastest of them all, kicking home in :28.1 to win by more than two lengths in a lifetime best effort. Dan D Man Can and Bravo Alpha rounded out the trifecta.
The victory is the sixth in 13 starts for the freshman, who now sports earnings of $182,455. Zach and his wife, Dessa, share ownership of the colt with Marvin Schwartz and Ted Comerford. Comerford is a longtime partner with the Miller family, owning multiple Indiana Sire Stakes champions with Miller’s father, Alvin, including Topville Cadillac (2015) and Miss Millie (2011).
“It’s pretty exciting for Zach and Dessa, and I’m happy for them,” Comerford said.
Zach has experienced wins on Hoosier Champions night in the past, but never as a conditioner. Both he and Dessa shared ownership with Alvin Miller on 2011 sire stakes final winner Pacific Sun Rae.
“It was really great to finally put it all together,” Zach said. “It’s been a little while, but I’m glad to finally get there.”
The victory also served as validation for Bontrager, proprietor of Premier Acres in northern Indiana. When Premier Bluebird passed through the sales ring at the Hoosier Classic sale last October, he brought only $4,500. As the breeder explained, the Pilot Discretion—Winery Hanover colt toed out in the front and was badly discounted as a result.
“He towed out pretty bad, but he went clean,” said Bontrager, who bred the mare with Bluebird Meadows’ Daryl Miller. “This colt, working with him as a yearling, his heart was always, he was always go, go. He didn’t have to push it. I said this horse is going to go because of the heart. I knew he was going to make it. He proved it tonight. You know, that heart still pays off.”
Looking at Premier Bluebird’s pedigree page from the Hoosier Classic, the colt checks all the boxes, which made it frustrating for Bontrager when the colt sold for less than $5,000. Cataloged as Hip #345 in a sale that sold 350 lots, Premier Bluebird is the first foal from an Explosive Matter mare from a well-known family.
“The fourth dam is the dam of Muscle Hill,” Bontrager said. “It is the family of Gimpanzee and all those. The dam is a half-sister to Wine Rack Hanover. You see that kind of pedigree over and over day one in Lexington. It’s a big, big family. I was very frustrated. I knew he had that flaw, but I knew the heart was there, and I knew the family. I had to sit on my hands not to bid. I just felt he’s going to be the horse to have.”
As Premier Bluebird lined up behind the starting gate Friday night, Bontrager watched as a railbird. He had a front row view as the trotter sped home to claim the Super Final.
“It’s a first for me,” he said. “This was always the dream. You work so hard to get the mare in foal, get a live foal, make sure he doesn’t get hurt, and get him in the yearling sale. He brings $4,500, but he’s in good hands. And once you get a reward like this, it just brings life back. My son is here with me. Every start, he wakes up in the morning, first question he has is, ‘Did Premier Bluebird win?’ We’ve been close followers on him, and it’s exciting.”
Although Bontrager missed out on a lucrative payoff when Premier Bluebird sold last fall, the win will help significantly when breeders awards are calculated at year’s end.
“It will be nice,” he said. “It will make up for the $4,500.”
