Harrah's Hoosier: Dover In Motion betters Ponda Adventure in Indiana Sires Stakes

Five-for-five Dover In Motion and six-for-six Ponda Adventure locked horns for the first time in Indiana Sires Stakes action for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Wednesday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park, and it would be Dover In Motion who stayed perfect, winning in a 1:54 2/5.

Racing in the second $66,000 flight for that group, Ponda Adventure and driver Trace Tetrick stepped out quickly from post nine and made front in a 28 1/5 opening quarter. Dover In Motion (Ricky Macomber Jr.) settled in fourth from post three and then attacked in the backstretch, taking over command from Ponda Adventure at the 57 3/5 half. From there, Dover In Motion backed down the tempo to 1:27 at three-quarters, and in the sprint for home, there was no catching Dover In Motion, as he rolled home in 27 2/5 to defeat Ponda Adventure by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:54 2/5. Racer Dan (James Yoder) was the third-place finisher.

A gelding from the first crop of Dover Dan, Dover In Motion, who pushed his bankroll to $144,000, is trained by Jamie Macomber for owners M & M Racing and Norbert Maza. Dover In Motion, who is out of the Yankee Glide mare Keystone Sadie, was bred by Lyle Schlabach and brought $50,000 at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Dover In Motion was the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.20 to win.

"He's just perfect at everything he does," Jamie Macomber noted after the victory. "From the beginning, he's been very easy and just good at everything he does. He's going to stay in sire stakes here for the rest of this year and we’ll go from there."

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Back in the first $66,500 section for the rookie colt and gelding trotters, Yo Mister (Yoder) carved out a 27 3/5 quarter and then gave way to sit in the pocket behind Tug And Coop (Sam Widger). Tug And Coop reached the half in 56 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:27 1/5, but Yoder had Yo Mister two-wide before three-quarters, and he would surge back into command in the lane. Yo Mister kept clear to the wire after that, prevailing by a length and a half in 1:55 2/5. Swan Captain (John De Long) rallied from fifth to second in the final panel, and Iwon't Backdown As (Elliott Deaton) advanced from ninth to third in the stretch.

Yoder also trains Yo Mister, another gelding by Dover Dan, for his father Verlin. Yo Mister, who was bred by Noah Wickey and Amos Schwartz and is out of the Conway Hall mare My Lady Lindy, was purchased for $28,000 at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. He has compiled a 3-3-0 record from seven tries and has now put away $85,875. The 2-1 favorite, he returned $6.60 to win.

Two-year-old trotting fillies also met in two $65,000 Indiana Sires Stakes tilts. The first one of those went to Jusmakinyalook (Jordan Ross), who worked out a second-over journey and then trotted a 27 1/5 last quarter to get up and win by half a length in 1:55 2/5. Luv Lorelei (Robert Taylor), a stablemate to the winner, took the lead past the 28 1/5 opening quarter, clicked off middle-half stations of 57 3/5 and 1:27 3/5, and wound up second, and heavily-favored Fleurie (Peter Wrenn) had to settle for third.

Jusmakinyalook, a Pinetucky-Beldame Hanover (S J's Photo) filly, is trained by Taylor for owner Devon Miller. The John Stoll-bred Jusmakinyalook fetched $10,500 at the 2020 Michiana Classic Sale, now has two victories and two seconds from five starts, and has earned $61,780. Dispatched at 11-1, she paid $25.40 to win.

M-M's Dream (Widger) won the other Indiana Sires Stakes clash for the fillies in 1:55 4/5. After going to the lead from post one and hitting the first quarter in 28 seconds, she released Callmesue (Yoder) to the top in the backstretch. Callmesue kept control through a 57 3/5 half, a 1:27 3/5 three-quarters, and into the stretch, but M-M's Dream rallied past her in the passing lane en route to winning by four lengths. R Desireable Lady (Tetrick) came on to get second, with Callmesue back in third.

The victorious daughter of Swan For All-Trading Places (Classic Photo) is trained by Henry Graber Jr. for owners Eleven Star Stables Frank Baldachino, and Hillside Stables. M-M's Dream was bred by Mervin Miller and was hammered down for $18,500 at last year's Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle from six trips behind the gate, has now stashed away $110,962, and returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 choice.

--Macomber quote courtesy of Harrah's Hoosier Park--