Trotting rookies duel in ISS action

ANDERSON, Ind.— August 25, 2021— The focus was on the harness racing freshmen at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Wednesday, August 25.

A total of five divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes highlighted the 14-race card: three divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, as well as two for the two-year-old trotting fillies.

The undefeated Ponda Adventure kicked things off in the $44,500 first division for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. He won in front end fashion for the potent Trace Tetrick and Erv Miller combination, scoring the victory by four lengths on the line over Words As Weapons S and Summit City Sonny in 1:54.2. The gelded son of Swan For All was bred by Pond-a-acres, and is the first foal by the quarter million dollar earing Muscle Hill mare, Wildflower. Ponda Adventure is now a perfect five for five to kick off his young career, pushing his career earnings to $94,968 on the season for owners L A Willinger, J D Graham and Engel Stables of Il LLC.

PONDA ADVENTURE REPLAY

In the second division for trotting colts, the undefeated Dover In Motion followed suit and extend his unbeaten streak to four to begin his career. Leaving from post 4, Dover In Motion stayed patient in the early going for driver Ricky Macomber Jr. before making a backstretch brush from third, clearing to the lead and never looking back for the remainder of the mile. Dover In Motion checked out on the field in the stretch, cruising to seven length 1:54.4 victory over second choice Yo Mister and longshot Gustavo Flight. Jamie Macomber trains the gelded son of first crop sire Dover Dan for owners M&M Racing and Norbert Joseph Maza. Bred by Lyle Dean Slabach, the $50,000 Hoosier Classic purchase now boasts earnings of $88,750 through his perfect four career starts.

DOVER IN MOTION REPLAY

The third and final division of stakes action for the trotting colts would prove to be much closer at the line, with Swan Captain and John De Long getting up by a neck in a thrilling three-across finish. Utilizing a sharp 27:2 final quarter, Swan Captain rode the rail to get up in time in 1:57.4 over the upset minded Land Of Freedom and Dale Hiteman. Muscle Valley and Ricky Macomber Jr. rallied late on the far outside to narrowly miss and round out the trifecta ticket third. Trained by Roger Welch, Swan Captain was a $100,000 purchase from the 2020 Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for owners Willam C De Long, William P De Long & Gordon Wright. This evening’s Sire Stakes score came as the maiden breaking victory for the gelded son of Swan For All out of the Muscles Yankee mare, Yoga. Swan Captain scored the mild 7-1 upset, returning $16.20 for his backers at the betting window.

SWAN CAPTAIN REPLAY

The trotting fillies kicked their night off with the $66,000 first division of Sire Stakes as the evening’s ninth race. After being parked three-deep in the first turn, Simply Right and Elliot Deaton landed in the pocket on the backstretch and converted the trip into an open length 1:57.0 score. Sent off by the betting public at 5/1, Simply Right nabbed a three length victory over race favorite Macy, with Luv Lorelei and Robert Taylor getting up for third from the second tier in post 10. Simply Right was an $87,000 purchase at the Lexington Select Yearling sale for owner Al Libfeld of Ontario. Bred by Alan and Larry Troyer of Indiana, Simply Right is a Swan For All full sister to Indiana Sire Stakes winner Shirley Goodness, out of the Credit Winner mare Stirling Debutant. Anette Lorentzon trains the rookie trotting filly, getting the first win of her career in her third lifetime start and now banking over $50,000 on the season in doing so.

SIMPLY RIGHT REPLAY

Sire Dover Dan would pick up his second Sire Stakes victory on the evening, with Callmesue and taking the $66,000 second split for trotting fillies. Callmesue made good on the pocket trip given by driver/trainer James Yoder, holding off a hard charging M-M’s Dream by a slim nose, with previously undefeated and bettor’s choice, Fleurie, finishing a quarter length back in third. The pint sized filly out of the Mr Lavec mare, Lisas Mission, has visited the winner’s circle in five of six starts on the season, trotting to a lifetime mark of 1:55:3 in this evening’s twelfth race. Bred by Richard Frey, Callmesue was a $14,000 Hoosier Classic purchase by the husband and wife team of James and Cheyenne Yoder, who are no strangers to top Indiana Trotting Fillies with the likes of stable star and Indiana Sire Stakes champion, May Baby. Callmesue has now brought in $87,750 on the season for her connections.

CALLMESUE REPLAY

Live racing will continue at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 26 with a 14-race card. It will be the two-year-old pacing fillies turn to step into the Sire Stakes spotlight on Thursday night, with two $68,000 divisions of the third leg set to round out the card in races 13 and 14. With a daily post time of 6:30 pm, live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park will be conducted through December 4. For more information on the upcoming live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

For full race results, click here.

From Harrah’s Hoosier Park