Harrah's Hoosier Park: Indiana Sire Stakes season kicks off for rookie trotting males

A trio of divisions of the first round of Indiana Sire Stakes action for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings headlined the Thursday (July 9) night card at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with Ponda Solve, Nectar Of The Gods and So Joyful all taking home victories.

In the $46,000 first split, it was Ponda Solve and leading driver Trace Tetrick wiring the field for trainer Ron Burke.

Leaving out of post three, Ponda Solve was intent on snagging the lead out of the gate, fending off Broadway Tempo (Doug Rideout) to fire past the first quarter in 28 4/5. Racing single-file down the backstretch, the field remained unchanged with Ponda Solve focused at the helm, marching to the halfway mark in 59 2/5. The post time favorite Heffae (Lamar Wingard) looked to go first-over on the leader before Ponda Solve ticked off the three-quarters in 1:29 1/5.

Laying it all out on the track, Heffae battled along the outside, hoping to catch a slip up from Ponda Solve. A Swan For All colt, Ponda Solve finished the race how he started; in front and clearing the wire in 1:57 2/5 while a measured length in front. Heffae claimed second, with Steppinouttohelp (Robert Taylor) rallying for the show.

Depositing a healthy check into his lifetime total of $24,440, Ponda Solve achieved his first pari-mutuel win in career start number two. Ponda Solve is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Michael Rosenthal and Knox Services Inc. The 2-year-old was bred by Ponda-A-Acres and Fashion Hill Farm.

Finding favor down the stretch, Nectar Of The Gods scored the winning knockout blow a couple races later in the eighth with trainer Mike Micallef in the sulky.

The five-horse field found their spots with ease, setting out the order to the first quarter in 29 1/5 with Rockinrowdy (Jared Finn) leading early and Nectar Of The Gods hovering close behind. Immediately after the turn, Nectar Of The Gods steamrolled along the outside to take the advantage before being leap-frogged by Starboard (Jordan Ross) at the half-mile pole in 59 4/5.

Copperstone (Kyle Husted) wheeled first-over on the far turn to move alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:29.4. Copperstone did not slow down there, motoring past the leader. Wanting in on a piece of the action, Nectar Of The Gods made it a three-horse race, storming the stretch in 27 3/5 and striking the wire in 1:57 4/5 while a half-length claer. Starboard reclaimed second, while Copperstone settled for third.

Owned by Bet The House LLC. and bred by Steve Jones, Nectar Of The Gods paid $6.40 to win. The Temporal Hanover colt boosted his lifetime earnings to $26,250 for the first win of the 2-year-old's lifetime.

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In the $46,500 third and final division, So Joyful and driver John De Long utilized a backside brush en route to victory for trainer Ernie Gaskin.

Leaving from post two, So Joyful was away third while Diamond Popper (Brandon Bates) took command early to the opening quarter in 29 1/5. De Long right-lined So Joyful from there, blitzing to the top before the half in 1:00 2/5, then trotting to three-quarters 2 1/2 lengths clear in 1:30. From there, So Joyful sprinted away, trotting home in 27 4/5 to hit the wire 4 1/2 lengths clear in 1:57 4/5. Royal Response (Markus Niklasson) rallied for second, with Diamond Popper holding sway for third.

It was the first win in the second try for So Joyful, who is owned by All-Wright Racing, Brian Code and James Nellinger. The son of Rebuff was bred by Luckiana Farm and Aaron Stutzman and has a career bankroll of $23,850.

Under the Friday night lights, Harrah's Hoosier Park welcomes a 14-race card, continuing Indiana Sire Stakes action with the first leg of the 2-year-old colts and geldings pace. Four-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding Harrisburg Heist returns to Harrah's Hoosier Park to race in a loaded $22,000 Open Pace in Race 9. That group also includes millionaires Coach Stefanos and Little Rocket Man.

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