Harrah's Hoosier Park: Ponda Adventure maintains command in Indiana Sires Stakes

Ponda Adventure turned in another dominant performance at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 25, as the 3-year-old trotting colt sensation continued his winning ways in the co-featured event of the evening, a $48,000 split of the Indiana Sires Stakes. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick in the bike, Ponda Adventure utilized his customary gate-to-wire tactics to score by three-parts of a length in 1:53 1/5 over Swan Flyer and Jay Cross. With the win, Ponda Adventure remains undefeated in eight starts this season and is now 16-for-18 lifetime.

Leaving from post two, Ponda Adventure stepped away from the gate to grab the early lead through an opening panel in 27 4/5. Ponda Adventure went uncontested through splits of 56 2/5 and 1:25 1/5 while the rest of the field remained in single-file order. Using a 28 second final quarter, Ponda Adventure was able to keep the pocket-sitting Swan Flyer at bay to get the victory.

With the win, Ponda Adventure has now amassed $453,912 in lifetime purse earnings for his ownership connections of Engel Stable, L.A. Willinger, and J.D. Graham. The gelded son of Swan For All-Wildflower was bred by Pond-A-Acres. Ponda Adventure's victory was one of two driving victories for Trace Tetrick.

In the first $48,500 flight of the stakes action, it was Swan Captain who pulled off a 7-1 upset to score in a new lifetime-best of 1:52 1/5. With driver John DeLong in the bike, Swan Captain found late racing room in the lane to track down the pace-setting Dover In Motion and Ricky Macomber Jr. to get the win by three lengths.

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Trained by Roger Welch, Swan Captain has now won four of 12 starts this season and pushed his lifetime bankroll to $169,925. Owned in partnership by W.C. DeLong, W.P. DeLong, and G.C. Wright, the son of Swan For All-Yoga recorded his fifth lifetime victory from 20 trips behind the gate.

Indiana Sires Stakes action will continue at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, August 26 with one $97,000 tilt for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlighting the 14-race card.

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