$3.2 million Champions Night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park

It was the richest night of harness racing all season long as Harrah’s Hoosier Park played host to its Super Night of Indiana Sire Stakes Finals Saturday, Oct. 14, with purses totaling $3.2 million.

Here is a brief write-up and video replay of all the stakes finals.

$250,000 ISS Final Three-year-old Colt Pace (Race 14)

With a bold, first-over move at odds of 10-1, Ponda Warrior (Rockin Image) and driver Dexter Dunn were able to gun down 1/5 favorite Soaring Now (Joey Putnam) and win by four lengths in 1:49.2.

Soaring Now took the lead away from JK Victory (Trace Tetrick) after a speedy :25.2 opening quarters mile and then led to the half mile in :53.1. Ponda Warrior and Dunn then came first-over in the backstretch with Rip Wheeler (Brandon Bates) second-over. Past the three-quarters in 1:21.3 and Ponda Warrior has not only collared Soaring Now, but scoots away for a four length romp. Rip Wheeler was second with Soaring Now third.

It was the fourth win this year for Ponda Warrior, who is trained and co-owned by Jay Hochstetler with Finkelberg Racing and South Of The Tracks Racing. He paid $22.00 to win and was bred by Pand-A-Acres.

PONDA WARRIOR REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Two-year-old colt Pace (Race 13)

Buzzsaw Russ (Rockin Image) and driver John DeLong sat patiently along the rail and then in the stretch closed like gangbusters to beat race favorite Coach Stefanos.

Driven by Trace Tetrick, Coach Stefanos went right to the early lead with Hetolditlikeitwas (Peter Wrenn) in the two-hole spot to the quarter mile in :26.2. They led to the half mile in :54.4 as J B Gram (Marcus Miller) came first-over with Art It Is (Sam Widger) second over. Past the three quarters in 1:23, Coach Stefanos had a sizeable lead but as soon as DeLong got Buzzsaw Russ in motion they mowed down Coach Stefanos to win by a half a length in 1:50.2. Hetolditlikeitwas finished third.

It was the fourth win of the career for Buzzsaw Russ, who is trained by Melissa Essig for owner Russell Beeman and Charles Weaver. Devon Beachy and Devon Knapp bred the gelding that paid $11.40 to win.

BUZZSAW RUSS REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Three-year-old Filly Pace (Race 12)

Need To Breathe (Riggins) and driver Dexter Dunn really needed space to race and they got it just in time to sneak up the rail to win in a photo.

JK’s Rollin Baby and driver Michael Oosting were first on the lead with Need To Breathe and Dunn dropping into the two-hole spot by the quarter in :26.2. They went by the half mile in :54.1 as Trick Of The Light (Trace Tetrick) came first-over with Best Place To Be (Sam Widger) second-over to the three quarters in 1:22.2.

Down the stretch JK’s Rollin Baby began to fade and that offered Dunn and Need To Breathe space to squeeze by along the pylons and take the lead, holding on at the wire by a head in 1:51.1. Always Gonna B You (David Miller) was second with Marvelous Marshia (John DeLong) third.

It was the sixth win this year for Need To Breathe who is trained and co-owned by Tyler George with Lee Leonard and the Trent Stchler Stable. She was bred by Mike Hollerback and Charles Kline and paid $6.20 to win.

NEED TO BREATHE REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Three-year-old Colt Trot (Race 10)

Adamsville Road (Swan For All) and driver Sam Widger gave the race favorite Ponda Adventure a perfect two-hole trip, but it didn’t matter as Adamsville Road was too strong on the front end.

Cutting fractions from the start of :27.1, :56 and 1:24, Adamsville Road was so strong on the lead that only Ponda Adventure stood a chance to staying close in the stretch. Adamsville Road went on to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:53.2. Ponda Adventure was second with Swan Captain (John DeLong) third.

It was the third straight win and seven victory of the year for Adamsville Road. He is trained by Tyler George for owners Mel Rose Stable and Joe Hesselroad, paying $7.00 to win. He was bred by Joyce McClelland.

ADAMSVILLE ROAD REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Two-year-old Filly Pace (Race 8)

Flying down the stretch from seventh place, Fortunada (Luck Be Withyou) and driver John DeLong pulled off a 15-1 upset victory by one length in 1:52.4.

Through the early fractions of :26, :53.4 and 1:22.3, it was Queen’s Reign (Michael Oosting) first on the lead, then Always In Flight (Jordan Ross) took command and then it was the 1/5 favorite Rollin Rosie (Dexter Dunn) grinding it out to the front.

Picking up all the pieces in the stretch was Fortunada as Sleazy Mama (JK Endofanera) was second and Rollin Rosie third. It was Fortunada’s seventh win of the season for trainer Roger Welch and owner and breederss W De Long and G Wright and P De Long. She paid $33.00 to win.

FORTUNADA REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Three-year-old Filly Trot (Race 7)

Sent off as the overwhelming 1/5 wagering favorite, M-M’s Dream (Swan For All) put on show with driver Sam Widger, coming first over at the half mile and grinding it out the rest of the way.

Bluebird Dove (Peter Wrenn) cut the mile to the quarter in :27 and the half in :55.4 with Swan Trixie (Dexter Dunn) sitting the pocket-trip and then M-M’s Dream starting up first-over. By the three quarters in 1:24.3, M-M’s Dream kept gaining ground and went on to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:52.4 Luv Lorelei (Robert Taylor) was second with Swan Trixie third.

It was a lifetime mark for M-M’s Dream, her second straight win and tenth win in eleven starts this year. She is trained by Henry Graber, Jr for the Eleven Star Stables, F Baldachino and the Hillside Stables, paying $2.40 to win. She was bred by Marvin Miller.

M-M’S DREAM REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Two-year-old Colt Trot (Race 6)

Jailhouse Dance (Dover Dan) and driver Michael Oosting turned a third-over trip into victory lane and stopped the teletimer in a lifetime best 1:54.1 effort. Fractions were :27.1, :56.2 and 1:25.3. First-over Talent Scout (Dexter Dunn) was second with Brookview Darius (Atlee Bender) third.

It was the second straight win and fourth triumph of the year for Jailhouse Dance. The gelding is trained by Ken Rucker, who also co-owns the gelding with the Rock & Roll Stable, Inc. and Michael Shan. She was bred by Lester Beachy and paid $6.60 to win.

JAILHOUSE DANCE REPLAY

$250,000 ISS Final Two-year-old Filly Trot (Race 3)

Not even drawing the outside post nine could stop Yo Beth D (Helpisontheway) from getting to the lead and holding it all the way to the finish. She cut fractions of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:24.4, holding the field at bay for driver Trevor Smith and winning by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. T’s Pride (Trace Tetrick) was second with the pocket-sitting Helpoftheseason (Peter Wrenn) third.

It was the second straight win and seventh victory in ten starts this year for Yo Beth D. She is trained by Todd Luther for Greg Luther Racing, LLC, was bred by John Schmucker and paid $4.20 to win.

YO BETH D REPLAY

$70,000 ISS Final Older Horse Trot (Race 5)

As soon as the starting gate pulled away, driver Michael Oosting had Tellmeaboutit (Tellitlikeitis) on the lead and those two never looked back in wiring the field by one and one-half lengths. The even money favorite cut fractions of :26, :53.4 and 1:21.1, then stopping the teletimer in 1:48.4. Brookview Bullet (Jordan Ross) was second with Little Rocket Man (John DeLong) third.

It was the fourth win this year for Tellmeaboutit, who is trained by Alvin Miller. He co-owns the six-year-old gelding with Twila Harts. It was bred by Lavon Miller and paid $4.20 to win.

TELLMEABOUTIT REPLAY

$76,000 ISS Final Older Pacing Mares (Race 11)

Hot Mess Express and driver John DeLong came into this final as the 4/5 wagering favorites, but that did not matter to Rockin Nola (Rockin Image) and driver Joey Putnam as they led from start to finish.

Leaving like a rocket from post eight, Putnam had Rockin Nola in front right away with Rose Run Vision (Don Eash) sitting the pocket trip through quarters of :25.2, :53.1 and 1:21.1. Hot Mess Express got a second-over trip behind Maggie Rhee (Michael Oosting), but it still did not help as Rockin Nola sped away at the finish, winning by one and one-half lengths in 1:49.3 over Hot Mess Express with Maggie Rhee third.

A six-year-old mare, it was Rockin Nola’s fifth win this year for trainer Joe Putnam and J P Racing, LLC and Suttons Bay Racing. She paid $11.20 to win and was bred by Mahlon Lambright.

ROCKIN NOLA REPLAY

$70,000 ISS Final Older Horse Trot (Race 9)

Predator And Prey (Guccio) and driver Dexter Dunn went off as the mild 2-1 wagering favorite and the four-year-old gelding raced like he was 1/9.

Breckenridge (Dan Shetler) was first on the lead to the quarter in :27.2, then Bluebird Yoshi (Peter Wrenn) took command by the half mile in :56.2. It was then that Predator And Prey with Dunn came first-over after Bluebird Yoshi to the three-quarters in 1:25.1.

In the stretch drive Predator And Prey proved to be the strong horse, pulling away at the finish for a two and one-quarter length triumph in 1:53.4. Bluebird Yoshi held for second with Simply Swan (Joey Putnam) third.

Trained by Michael Hitchcock, it was the sixth win of the season for Predator And Prey. The four-year-old gelding is owned by H & Stables, paid $6.00 to win and was bred by Merle Yoder.

PREDATOR AND PREY REPLAY

$70,000 ISS Final For Older Trotting Mares (Race 2)

Working out a second-over trip that carried her just far enough, Ima Diamond Babe (Guccio) and driver Atlee Bender were able to out-kick everyone down the stretch to win by one length in 1:54. The pacesetter ER Kim (Bradley Ferguson) was second with the pocked sitting Sly Little Fox (Trace Tetrick) third.

It was a lifetime mark and third win this year for Ima Diamond Babe, who is trained by James Yoder for owner Cheyenne Yoder of Upland. Bred by Merle Yoder she paid $9.80 to win.

IMA DIAMOND BABE REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink