Harrah's Hoosier Park: Ponda Fashion quickest in Tuesday's Indiana Sires Stakes

The path to victory was clear in round five of the Indiana Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday (Sept. 3) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the pocket-sitter prevailing in all three divisions. Ponda Fashion and Classical Jane each scored upsets at double-digit odds, while Better Tak'em was the lone favorite to take home her $45,500 split.

Ponda Fashion was sent away at 11-1 from post six in the field of seven with regular pilot Kyle Wilfong in tow for the first flight.

Wilfong hustled Ponda Fashion towards the front early, grabbing good position in the pocket behind 1-5 favorite Miracle Maven (driven by John De Long) through a quarter of 28 1/5. The field remained single-file to the half in 57 3/5 before the lead duo began to open up on the final turn, trotting well clear through three-quarters in 1:27 1/5.

After turning for home, De Long began to go to work on Miracle Maven with Wilfong yet to move Ponda Fashion off his helmet midway through the lane. Wilfong waited for the passing lane to open up before timing his move perfectly with Ponda Fashion, rocketing home in 27 3/5 to reach the wire a half-length in front of Miracle Maven in 1:55 1/5. Bluebird Lola (Trace Tetrick) finished third, four lengths back of the winner.

The clocking was a lifetime best for the Jay Hochstetler-trained daughter of Crescent Fashion out of the Big Stick Lindy mare Ponda's Lucky Lady. The half-sister to Harrah's Hoosier Park track record holder and Hochstetler stablemate Ponda Jet has won three of six on the season. Bred by Pond-A-Acres, the earner of $66,700 is owned by Connie and Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz.

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Driver Jordan Ross teamed up with trainer Henry Graber Jr. to snag the final two Sire Stakes events on the card, the first coming with 3-5 favorite Better Tak'em in the second section.

Leaving from post six, Ross inherited the lead going into the first turn after M-M's Charm (Pete Wrenn) jumped it off during a leave attempt, guiding the fillies to the quarter in 28 3/5. Woodside Izz (LeWayne Miller) passed on finding a seat on the first turn and took command of the field on the backstretch, leading the fillies to the half in 58 seconds. Due to a trio of early breakers, there were four fillies left in contention on the far turn, with Woodside Izz leading the charge to three-quarters in 1:28 2/5.

Better Tak'em popped pocket turning for home before quickly assuming command from Woodside Izz. Trotting home in 27 4/5, Better Tak'em trotted confidently to a 2 3/4 length victory over Woodside Izz in 1:56 2/5. GV Miss Stephen (James Yoder) crossed the wire third, eight lengths back at 82-1.

Through six starts, Better Tak'em is yet to finish worse than second with three victories and three runner-up finishes. Owned by Henry Graber Jr. and Elven Star Stables, the $15,000 yearling buy at the Hoosier Classic has banked $107,625. Steven Mast bred the daughter from the first crop of Don't Let'em and out of the Cantab Hall mare Barmaid.

The Ross/Graber Jr. combo delivered much better value for the bettors with their second stakes score when Classical Jane got up at 11-1 in the third and final test.

Classical Jane made quick work of the outside post seven, crossing over to the pylons in front through a quarter of 28 3/5. Trace Tetrick sent 2-5 favorite Swan Jewel to the lead from third on the backstretch, giving the pocket ride to Classical Jane to the half in 58 2/5. Swan Jewel had things her way on the far turn, reaching the three-quarter pole first in 1:27 4/5.

Tipping from the pocket at the top of the stretch, Classical Jane quickly pulled alongside Swan Jewel to grab a short lead with an eighth of a mile to go. From there, Classical Jane wore down Swan Jewel to trot clear by 1 1/4 lengths over the favorite on the wire in 1:56 4/5. Sweetasmoni (Wilfong) rallied for the show spot.

After breaking her maiden in leg four of Indiana Sires Stakes at 22-1 in her last outing, the win was the second in seven career outings for Classical Jane. The daughter of Swan For All-Class Angel is owned by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC. and Backroad Stables. Steve Mast bred Classical Jane, who sports earnings of $62,655.

The week of racing continues on Wednesday (Sept. 4) at Harrah's Hoosier Park, with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). The 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings step into the spotlight with a pair of $66,500 groupings of their fifth and penultimate Indiana Sires Stakes leg in races five and eight.

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