Harrah's Hoosier Park: More Indiana Sires Stakes success for Ponda Adventure, M-M's Dream

Indiana Sires Stakes action continued on Thursday, September 15 at Harrah's Hoosier Park with the sophomore trotters competing in the seventh leg of eight. Two divisions for the colts and geldings, as well as a single split for the fillies would highlight the 14-race card. All eyes were on Ponda Adventure and M-M's Dream as both entered with undefeated seasons on the line, and both concluded the night with their perfect records intact.

Ponda Adventure would be the first to extend his status to ten-for-ten in a $48,000 division for the colts and geldings. Starting from the rail, driver Trace Tetrick left aggressively, protecting inside position and getting to the lead through an opening quarter of 27 4/5. Up the backstretch, Ponda Adventure faced pressure from 2021 Indiana Sires Stakes champion Dover In Motion (Ricky Macomber Jr.) as he moved to the lead at the half in 56 4/5. Dover In Motion and Ponda Adventure began to gain separation from the rest of the field on the turn and to three-quarters in 1:25.

With what appeared to be an impending stretch duel looming, Dover In Motion made a costly mistake, going off-stride at the top of the stretch. Inheriting the lead from there was a revved-up Ponda Adventure, who powered home with a 27 2/5 final quarter to score by over three lengths on the line in 1:53. Swan Captain and John De Long would finish second, with Yo Mister and James Yoder rounding out the trifecta.

With the victory, the Erv Miller trainee pushed his career bankroll over half a million dollars, now with $501,912 in earnings for owners Engel Stable of IL, Louis Willinger and Jerry Graham. Bred by Pond-A-Acres, the Swan For All gelding, out of the Muscle Hill mare Wildflower, picked up career victory 18 in 20 lifetime starts.

Ponda Adventure would give driver Trace Tetrick the sweep of the stakes action for the colts and geldings, as earlier on the card he would score with the Tyler George-trained Adamsville Road. Getting away from the rail, Tetrick would steer Adamsville Road into the third position in the early stages as race favorite Late Night Hawk and Kyle Wilfong cut out the opening quarter in 28 1/5. Late Night Hawk remained unchallenged on the lead through a half of 57 2/5 before Tetrick made his move on the far turn with Adamsville Road, challenging the leader at three-quarters in 1:26 2/5.

As the field turned for home, Adamsville Road and Tetrick would scoot away from the field with a 27 3/5 final fraction to score by over a length in 1:54. Sweet Boy Ben and De Long rallied for second, with Skyway Professor and LeWayne Miller staging a bold stretch move to finish in the show position.

Owned by Mel Rose Stable and Joe Nesselroad, Adamsville Road has picked up five victories in 13 starts in 2022, banking $105,140 in his sophomore campaign. Bred by Joyce McClelland, Adamsville Road is a gelded son of Indiana's leading trotting sire, Swan For All, and out of the Yankee Glide mare She Wore Red.

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Not to be outdone by her male counterparts, M-M's Dream put on a gutsy display to score in the lone $92,500 division of Indiana Sires Stakes for the fillies. Driver Sam Widger elected to float from post six in the early stages, unable to find a spot along the rail in fifth as Jusmakinyalook and Jordan Ross carved out a 28 2/5 first quarter. Having no luck finding the pylons, M-M's Dream began to forge to the lead, striking the front at the halfway station in 57 2/5, finally crossing over to the cones entering the far turn on her way to three-quarters in 1:27 1/5.

In the lane, M-M's Dream's unblemished season appeared to be in jeopardy as Jusmakinyalook and Ross surged up the passing lane, but M-M's Dream dug deep with a 27 second sprint to the wire to hang on to the victory by a head at the line in 1:54 1/5. Bluebird Dove and Peter Wrenn closed from the back-field for the third position.

Trained by Henry Graber Jr., M-M's Dream has now visited the winner's circle in all eight of her trips to the racetrack in 2022 for owners Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables. With the victory, the 2021 Indiana Sires Stakes champion now boasts a gaudy bankroll of $510,962. Bred by Mervin Miller, M-M's Dream is a daughter of Swan For All and out of the Classic Photo mare Trading Places.

Indiana Sires Stakes continue on the Friday night card at Harrah's Hoosier Park, this time with the 2- and 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighting the 14-race card. The card also features a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High Five in the Friday night finale with an industry low takeout of 12 percent.

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