Harrah's Hoosier Park: Sophomore standouts stay perfect in 2022

The Hoosier State's top 3-year-old trotters and pacers were back in action at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino as the track played host to a special Labor Day card of live racing on Monday, September 5. Six divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes were featured on the evening's 14-race card. Three-year-old trotting sensations Ponda Adventure and M-M's Dream both extended their win streaks to remain undefeated this season.

With an eight race run on the line, Ponda Adventure looked every bit the part of a 1-5 favorite as he went gate-to-wire in the first $48,000 Indiana Sires Stakes event for trotting colts and geldings. With regular pilot Trace Tetrick in the bike, Ponda Adventure went to the front and then simply coasted to the finish line to stop the timer in 1:53.

Trained by Erv Miller, Ponda Adventure notched his ninth win of the season from nine outings. Owned by Engel Stable, L.A. Willinger, and J.D. Graham, the gelded son of Swan For All-Wildflower pushed his seasonal earnings over the $200,000 mark with the victory. Ponda Adventure has now won 17 of 19 lifetime starts and $477,912 in purse earnings.

In the second split for the trotting colts and geldings, it was Dover In Motion and Ricky Macomber Jr. who returned to the winner's circle and delivered as the heavy favorite. Dover In Motion moved to the lead down the backside and never looked back en route to a 1:53 4/5 victory. Dover In Motion was a five length winner over Adamsville Road and Trace Tetrick.

Trained by Jamie Macomber, the son of Dover Dan-Keystone Sadie has now won ten of 17 lifetime starts. It was the second win of the season for Dover In Motion.

Not to be outdone by her male counterparts, M-M's Dream turned an impressive performance of her own to capture the $92,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for trotting fillies in 1:53 1/5. Opting for a trip off-the-pace this week, M-M's Dream found a 27 second final quarter to get up in the final strides and put a nose in front of the hard-charging Fleurie and Mike Oosting.

With the victory, the daughter of Swan For All-Trading Places has now won seven of seven starts this season and 13 of 15 lifetime appearances. M-M's Dream is trained by Henry Graber Jr. and owned in partnership by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables.

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In the $97,000 pacing colt and gelding grouping of the stakes action, it was Rip Wheeler and Brandon Bates who followed suit and extended a win streak of their own. Scoring his third straight victory, Rip Wheeler used a 25 1/5 closing quarter to track down Sure Thing Herman and Atlee Bender, who wound up third in the race, to get the win. Soaring Now and Joey Putnam also rallied well late but were forced to settle for second-place honors.

Trained by Walter Haynes Jr., the gelded son of Rockin Image-Novascotia Haover recorded his seventh win from 16 starts this season. Owned in partnership by Jeff Fought Racing and David Fought, Rip Wheeler has now seven of 18 lifetime while earning $186,749.

The pacing fillies rounded out the stakes action on the card, and it was Best Place To Be and Marvelous Marshia who found the winner's circle in their respective contests. Best Place To Be left alertly from post nine and held off all challengers to win in 1:51. With driver Sam Widger in the sulky, Best Place To Be was a near two length winner over JJ Endofanera and Trace Tetrick.

Trained by Mike Roth, Best Place To Be has now won three of 10 seasonal starts. The daughter of Always A Virgin-Best Place is owned in partnership by William Rufenacht and Dm Stables LLC.

The biggest upset of the evening came when Marvelous Marshia and John DeLong captured the second test for pacing fillies. Using a very well-timed rally, Marvelous Marshia tracked down the heavily-favored JK's Rollin Baby and Oosting late in the lane to score in 1:50 2/5.

Trained by Roger Welch, the daughter of Always A Virgin-Honey's Luck recorded her fourth win of the season from 10 trips behind the gate. Owned in partnership by W. DeLong, W. DeLong, M. DeLong and M. Lewis-Veitia, Marvelous Marshia has now won seven of 20 lifetime starts.

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