Harrah's Hoosier Park: Indiana Sires Stakes grand slam for John DeLong

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a stakes-filled card on Monday, May 29. The evening's 13-race card featured the opening round of Indiana Sires Stakes action for the 3-year-old competitors. The 2023 Indiana Sires Stakes program will feature eight legs throughout the season and culminate with the $250,000 Super Finals on October 13.

Driver John DeLong scored four stakes victories on the evening's card and swept the pacing filly divisions after steering Queen's Reign and Polk's Image to victory. In the opening division, Queen's Reign started her campaign impressively as she moved first-over around the final turn before tracking down the pace-setting Tell Me Please to get the victory by a head over Sweet Tell and Ricky Macomber Jr. in 1:52 1/5. Trained Ernie Gaskin, the daughter of JK Endofanera-Queen's Gold scored her first win of the season and fourth lifetime victory from 13 starts. Owned and bred by Watermark Farm LLC., Queen's Reign has now amassed $182,500 in earnings.

In the second test for the pacing fillies, Polk's Image continued her undefeated streak after going gate-to-wire in 1:52 1/5. Trained by Jeff Cullipher, the daughter of Rockin Image-Polk Dot Hanover left alertly from post two and repelled Sleazy Mama and Trace Tetrick late in the lane to get the victory. Owned by Pollack Racing LLC. and Jeff Cullipher, Polks Image is a perfect eight-for-eight this season. Bred by Dave Mast, Polk's Image has now earned $119,798 lifetime.

DeLong teamed up with trainer Missy Essig for his other two stakes wins on the evening's program. Texsong Soprano and DeLong utilized gate-to-wire tactics to capture the first grouping for trotting colts and geldings in 1:53 2/5. Using a 27 3/5 closing quarter, Texsong Soprano trotted away from his competition, finishing three lengths to the good. Owned by Lillian Farms and Joe Yoder, the son of Text Me-Muscling In is now two-for-two to start his 3-year-old season and has won seven of 12 lifetime starts. Bred by Abraham Miller, Texsong Soprano has now earned $205,222.

In the final split of stakes action, DeLong steered trotting filly Swanya to an upset victory in 1:54 3/5. Utilizing a 27 2/5 final quarter, Swanya tracked down the heavily-favored Stella Rose and Mike Oosting late in the lane to get the victory. Trained by Essig, the daughter of Swan For All-Tanya's Legacy scored her fourth win from six starts this season. Bred by Leonard J. Miller, Swanya is owned by Jacalyn Beeman.

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Harrah's Hoosier Park's leading driver Trace Tetrick swept the pacing colt and gelding divisions as he steered Coach Stefanos to victory for trainer Erv Miller and Why Not Now to victory for trainer Dylan Davis. Coach Stefanos delivered as the heavy betting favorite, going gate to wire and winning by three lengths in a new lifetime-best of 1:49 1/5. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched is owned in parternership by Duffy, D&M Trading IL LLC. and Mr. J Chris Stefanos. Bred by Victory Hill Farm, Coach Stefanos has now seven of 12 lifetime starts.

Employing a similar strategy in the second showdown, Tetrick sent Why Not Now to the front and never looked back. Why Not Now utilized a 26 second closing quarter to finish four lengths in front of Buzzsaw Russ and DeLong and stop the timer in a new lifetime-best of 1:49 1/5. Trained by Davis, Why Not Now is now four-for-four this season. The son of Always A Virgin-Star Of The Show is owned in partnership by Davis, Howard Taylor, and Jeffrey Billings and was bred by Dustin Miller.

Ponda Jet extended a win streak of his own in the second clash for trotting colts and geldings as he went gate-to-wire in 1:51 4/5 and recorded his fourth straight victory. The 1:51 4/5 clocking was a national season's record for 3-year-old trotting geldings and a new lifetime-best for the Jay Hochstetler trainee. Driven by Kyle Wilfong, Ponda Jet held off Helpfirstedition and John DeLong late in the lane to get the victory by three parts of a length. Owned in partnership by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz, the son of Dover Dan-Ponda's Lucky Lady has now earned $113,200.

Naturdays and Matt Krueger scored their first win of the season in the opening dash for trotting fillies. Stopping the timer in 1:53, Naturdays sat the pocket behind the heavily-favored Yo Beth D and Tetrick before tracking them down to get the victory in a new lifetime-best. Trained by Matt Rheinheimer, the daughter of Helpisontheway-Windsongmusclelady is owned by Alton Miller, Debra Miller and Brackton Miller. Naturdays has now won nine of 16 lifetime starts.

Indiana Sires Stakes action returns to Harrah's Hoosier Park on June 14. Harrah's Hoosier Park's 30th season of live harness racing will feature the richest open stakes schedule to date. Worth over a combined $12 million, the 160-day season will be culminated by hosting the 40th edition of the Breeders Crown in October. Harrah's Hoosier Park's premier pacing event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, is slated for Friday, August 11, and the coveted Breeders Crown events will take place on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28.

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