Freshmen do battle in Indiana Sires Stakes third round

ANDERSON, Ind.—August 16, 2023—Indiana-sired freshmen trotters were the featured harness racing attraction at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, August 16 as the evening’s 14-race card was highlighted by the third round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for the two-year-old trotters.

Ponda Title (Muscle Massive—Elin) turned in another dominant, gate to wire performance to capture her split of the stakes action and extend her win streak to five in the process. With Kyle Wilfong in the bike, Ponda Title used a sharp, front-running effort to hold off a hard charging Skyway Paige and LeWayne Miller to score in a new lifetime best of 1:55.

With the win, the filly remains undefeated in five starts this season for trainer Jay Hochstetler. The 1:55 clocking established a new lifetime best for Ponda Title as she pushed her career earnings to $114,250 for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert J. Buddig and Allen Schwartz.

In the opening division of the stakes action for the trotting fillies, it was Somebody Special (Swan For All—Lima Simplicity) and driver Trace Tetrick who converted a pocket trip into a 1:56.3 victory. Using a :28 closing quarter, Somebody Special was able to track down the pace-setting Black Gold and James Yoder and hold off a late surge from Crystal Swan and LeWayne Miller to get the victory.

Trained by Erv Miller, Somebody Special remains undefeated in three starts in her young career. The homebred is owned by Ervin Miller Stable and Geis Enterprise and has now earned $40,700.

Flirtnwiththepilot (Pilot Discretion—Savannah’s Lucy) and Peter Wrenn were able to overcome post ten to go gate to wire in the first $67,500 division of Indiana Sires Stakes action for the trotting colts.

Stopping the timer in 1:57.1, Flirtnwiththepilot was able to hold off the heavily favored Gruesome Twosome and Daryl Bontrager to get the win by a length.

Trained by Melanie Wrenn, the gelding recorded his third win from four lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing Stables, Bottom Line Racing LLC, Hickory Hollow Stables and Wrenn Racing, Flirtnwiththepilot now sports a lifetime bankroll of $51,545.

Team Wrenn swept the trotting colt divisions as they were also victorious just a few races later with Elhelpski (Helpisontheway) in the final division in 1:56.3. Elhelpski made his game winning move down the backside and held off Flight Number One and John DeLong late in the mile to get the win by nearly two lengths.

With the victory, Elhelpski recorded his second win in just three lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing Stables, Bottom Line Racing LLC and Wrenn Racing, Elhelpski has now amassed $70,800 in lifetime purse earnings.

Indiana Sires Stakes action returns to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 17 with one $133,00 division of Indiana Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. The evening’s 14-race card will also feature a $10,000 Guaranteed Late Pick-4 pool in Races 11-14 and a $10,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 pool in Race 14. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

For complete race results, click here.

From Harrah’s Hoosier Park