Harrah's Hoosier Park: Doubles for De Long, Pond-A-Acres in Star Destroyer

Wintery conditions in Anderson, Indiana, gave way to hot Grand Circuit action on Friday night as the Star Destroyer took center stage at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Four divisions of the sports finest sophomores headlined the 14-race card, with familiar faces making their way to the winner's circle.

Looking to rebound from an uncharacteristic seventh-place effort in the Carl Erskine, Ponda Adventure returned with a vengeance to kick off the stakes action on the night with a 1:53 3/5 score in the $57,000 colt and gelding trot. Leaving from post six in the field of nine, leading driver Trace Tetrick wasted no time getting to the front, sending Ponda Adventure straight to the lead through an opening quarter of 27 1/5. The Erv Miller trainee had things his way though a 58 second middle-half, leading the charge to the homestretch with Ohio standout Caviar Gold and Chris Page hot on his heels in the pocket. Ponda Adventure dug in gamely in the lane, rebuffing the pocket-popping Caviar Gold with a 28 2/5 final quarter to score by three-quarters of a length over Caviar Gold. Swan Flyer and John De Long finished third.

The victory was the 13th of the season in 17 tries for Ponda Adventure, who has only finished worse than second once in 27 lifetime starts. Owned by Engel Stable of IL LLC., Louis Willinger and Jerry Graham, the gelded son of Swan For All has banked $385,569 on the season and over $650,000 for his stellar career.

Different tactics would be utilized to score the victory in the $57,000 filly pace, as a late rally from the back-field would be the ticket to victory for Galleria Hanover. Driver Sam Widger opted to take back off the gate from post six, landing in the seventh position early as A Girl That Twirls and Trace Tetrick cut an opening quarter of 26 4/5 from the rail. A Girl That Twirls maintained front-end control through a half of 55 seconds before leading the field to the far turn and three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 while under duress from Patsville and John De Long as Galleria Hanover waited to pounce from third over. Patsville forged to the lead briefly before being met to her outside by Galleria Hanover, who thundered home in 27 3/5 through the snow to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:53. Patsville held for second, with Best Place To Be and Brandon Bates rallying to round out the trifecta at 78-1.

It was the fifth victory of the season for the Ron Burke-trained daughter by Indiana's fastest son Always B Miki and out the Somebeachsomewhere mare Gallie Bythe Beach. Owned by W.J. Donovan, Purnel & Libby LLC., and Joe Sbrocco, Galleria Hanover has deposited $190,475 in earnings on the season and now over a quarter-million dollars in her career.

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In the $58,000 filly trot, Brickhouse Babe would pick up her first victory of the season in a big way with a dominant 1:54 2/5 score. Driver John De Long was able to settle in fourth in the early going amidst confusion with breakers off the gate. Meanwhile, Verlin Yoder fired Gracelyn Hanover to the front from post nine through an opening quarter of 27 3/5. Yoder kept the gas pedal down up the backstretch, putting six lengths on his nearest competitor though a hot opening half of 56 seconds. The field began to reel in the leader on the far turn, with Gabbys C Note and Chris Page vacating the pocket, forcing Brickhouse Babe three-wide as she went on the attack at three-quarters in 1:25 4/5. The wide trip around the final turn didn't phase Brickhouse Babe, as she stormed home in 28 1/5 to put three lengths on the field on the line. Alana Hill and LeWayne Miller finished second, with Luv Lorelei and Robert Taylor finishing third.

Trained by Ryan Miller, it was the first victory in 20 seasonal starts for Brickhouse Babe and fifth triumph for her career. Owned by Ray Schnittker, Brickhouse Babe is a daughter of Walner and is out of the Donato Hanover mare Royal Assets, and with the victory went over $300,000 earned in her career, with $96,297 coming in 2022.

Driver John De Long picked up a second victory in the Star Destroyer, this time teaming up with Indiana Sires Stakes champion, Ponda Warrior, to score the $65,000 colt and gelding pace. Leaving from the rail in a congested field of 11, De Long put Ponda Warrior into play immediately, settling in the pocket behind Sure Thing Herman and Atlee Bender through an opening quarter of 27 4/5. De Long deuce-popped up the backstretch, briefly clearing to the lead before immediately being covered up one more by Taurasi and Devon Tharps though a half of 55 4/5. Yourwishisgranted and Kyle Wilfong went on the offensive on the far turn, putting his nose up front on the far turn and through three-quarters in 1:24 2/5. Taurasi battled back in the stretch to fend off the challenge of Yourwishisgranted, but would face one more rally up the rail as Ponda Warrior and De Long patiently waited for the passing lane before coming through with a 26 4/5 final quarter to score the 1:51 3/5 victory by half a length. Taurasi dug in gamely for the place position, with Sure Thing Herman finishing third.

Ponda Warrior posted his fifth win of his sophomore campaign in 17 tries for trainer Jay Hochstetler, who co-owns the Rockin Image colt along with Finkelberg Racing LLC. and South Of The Track Racing Inc. Out of the American Ideal mare Sweetnsinful, Ponda Warrior boasts a bankroll of $321,791 on the season and $444,991 lifetime.

Leading trainer Tyler George had a big evening on the card, teaming up with leading driver Trace Tetrick to score three victories with Major Crocker A, Mac's Big Boy and General Dolan. The three victories put George's total to 120 on the meet, establishing a new all-time single season training victories record at Harrah's Hoosier Park. The previous mark was 119 victories, first established by Jeff Cullipher in 2018 and matched by Tyler George in 2021.

--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--