News
Hoosier Cadillac Cruises in Invitational
The duo of Hoosier Cadillac and Mark O’Mara pulled away from the competition down the stretch to win the $23,000 Invitational Trot Saturday, July 5 at Hoosier Park. Hoosier Cadillac has earned three wins in six races this season. 
Hoosier Cadillac raced quickly out of the gate to take the lead over the field of seven. Heading towards the quarter-mile mark in :29.0, Hoosier Cadillac maintained the lead over Sandblast, driven by Trace Tetrick.
Charging down the backstretch, Hoosier Cadillac remained on the front, passing by the halfway point in a time of :58.4. The outer flow began from the back of the pack with Cellebrity Force and Gerry Kazmaier moving into position first-over. Coming to the three-quarter marker in a time of 1:27.2, Hoosier Cadillac started to pull away from the field.
Hoosier Cadillac controlled the top stop with Sandblast approaching on the inside. Charging to the finish, Hoosier Cadillac pulled away from the charging Sandblast to win in 1:55.3. JL Flying Arrows, managed by Neil Coleman, and Killer Whale, with Brad Hanners in the sulky, rounded out the top three.
“The horse (Hoosier Cadillac) was really strong, and is really good right now,” said O’Mara. “He had some problems, but they (Sally and Mel Gilbert) were able to iron them out. He drove perfectly tonight.”
Owned by Mel Gilbert of Hawkinsville, Ga. and trained by his wife, Sally, Hoosier Cadillac has earned over $108,000 in his 14 career wins. The six-year-old son of Ripken’s Victory returned $8.20, $5.40, and $3.60 for his effort.
“This was good for Hoosier Cadillac to race here tonight,” said O’Mara. “He’s heading to the Dygert at Hawthorne next week. If there had been enough for eliminations, he would have had to race in Chicago tonight, so it’s good he got to stay right here and get another race in before heading up north next week.”
Hoosier Cadillac is now three for six in 2008. He earned a career best time of 1:54.4 two starts back over Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval. The Indiana-sired gelding trains at the Hawkinsville Training Center each winter prior to coming back to Indiana each spring for the racing season.
