By Frank Cotolo, for Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind. – Split The House made his second move
worthy of winning the $421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Hoosier Park
Saturday night in a sparkling 1:48.1. Brett Miller drove the winner, who hit
the finish one length in front of McWicked.
Split The House (Rocknroll Hanover-Shake That Junk) left
alertly but settled for second as All Bets Off soared from the outside nine
post to take the early lead. The first quarter came up in a sizzling :25.4 as
the shuffling began.
From the second tier the first takeover came when Keystone
Velocity went to the outside and brushed to the lead, putting All Bets Off in
second, but not for long. Split The House retook the lead with another brush,
passing those two.
The battles were not over as All Bets Off returned to the
outside and took on Mach It So, one of the early leaders shuffled, as the lead
exchanged through a half in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:21.1.
Into the stretch, the duelers were Mach It So and All Bets
Off, but neither could handle the second move by Split The House, as he passed
the battling duo and took the win.
McWicked took advantage of the late duel and flew by the
pair to take second. Mach It So earned the show spot. Both were sent to the
gate at odds of 2-1, with Mach It So the slight actual favorite.
Fair Winds Farm bred Split The House, who is owned by
Crawford Farms Racing. Chris Oakes trains the 5-year-old gelding, who won his
second race of the season in only his sixth start of the year.
Split The House paid $18.40 to win.
