Harrah's Hoosier Park: Helpfirstedition topples favorites in Indiana Sires Stakes

Helpfirstedition picked up his first career Indiana Sires Stakes triumph by taking Thursday evening's lone $94,500 division for 3-year-old male trotters at Harrah's Hoosier Park in 1:53 flat.

Driven by John De Long, Helpfirstedition watched from second and then third as Texsong Soprano (Mike Oosting) cut the opening quarter in 27 1/5 before yielding to a brushing Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) prior to the half, which went on the board in 55 seconds flat. Ponda Jet maintained the top spot through three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, but De Long had moved Helpfirstedition off the cones into a first-over position at that station.

In the stretch Ponda Jet dug in and braced for the advancing Helpfirstedition, but Helpfirstedition sustained his bid and went by Ponda Jet inside the final eighth. From there, Helpfirstedition edged clear to tally by a length and a half while Ponda Jet and Texsong Soprano finished in a dead-heat for second.

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Missy Essig trains Helpfirstedition, a gelding by Helpisontheway, for owners Ervin Wickey, John Graber, Running Wild Stables and John Schmucker. Bred by Martin Wickey, Helpfirstedition was unraced as a 2-year-old, but so far in 2023 he has five wins, three seconds and two thirds from 11 starts to go with a bankroll of $127,100. Sent off as the 5-1 third choice, Helpfirstedition paid $13.20 to win.