Ponda Jet continued his winning ways at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino after he captured the featured event of the evening, the $95,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, on Thursday, June 15. Stopping the timer in 1:53.3, Ponda Jet pushed his undefeated streak to five and remains undefeated in stakes action this season for trainer Jay Hochstetler and driver Kyle Wilfong.
Talent Scout and Peter Wrenn left alertly to get the first call through the opening quarter in :26.2 with Texsong Soprano and Michael Oosting grabbing a pocket seat and Ponda Jet next in line in third. As the field approached the second station, Wilfong gave Ponda Jet the green light and he ranged up to grab command just before the half in :56.
Ponda Jet led the field to the three-quarters in 1:26 as Helpfirstedition and John DeLong were applying pressure from first-over. The stage was set for an epic battle to the wire and the top pair did not disappoint. Just when it appeared Helpfirstedition had the momentum on the outside, Ponda Jet refused to lose and found another gear. Using a :27.3 closing quarter, Ponda Jet got the win over a game Helpfirstedition. Know Stopping Now and Brandon Bates were a hard-charging third.
Sent off as the post time favourite, Ponda Jet returned $4 at the betting windows.
“That was an incredible effort,” trainer Jay Hochstetler noted after the victory. “For him to get the win after all of that is just incredible. He’s more manageable this year than he was last year and that has made all the difference.”
With the win, the son of Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady recorded the fifth win of the season from five starts and seventh lifetime victory from 16 trips behind the gate. Ponda Jet pushed his lifetime earnings to $160,950 for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. Ponda Jet was bred by Pond-A-Acres. The victory was also one of two winners on the evening’s 14-race card for driver Kyle Wilfong.
Live harness racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, June 16 with a 14-race card featuring the $97,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Friday’s 14-race card will also feature a $12,500 guaranteed early Pick-5 sequence in Races 1-5 with a $3,282.66 carryover and a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in Race 14.
(Harrah’s Hoosier Park)