Harrah's Hoosier Park: Two-year-old trotters clash in Indiana Sires Stakes

Two-year-old trotters of both sexes were the featured attraction at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, August 16 as the evening's 14-race card was highlighted by the third round of Indiana Sires Stakes.

Ponda Title turned in another dominant, gate-to-wire performance to capture her split of the stakes action and extend her record to five-for-five in the process. With Kyle Wilfong in the bike, Ponda Title used a sharp, front-stepping effort to hold off a hard-charging Skyway Paige and LeWayne Miller to score in a new lifetime-best of 1:55.

The daughter of Muscle Massive-Elin is trained by Jay Hochstetler. Ponda Title pushed her career earnings to $114,250 for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert J. Buddig and Allen Schwartz.

In the opening division of the stakes action for the trotting fillies, it was Somebody Special and driver Trace Tetrick who converted a pocket trip into a 1:56 3/5 victory. Using a 28 second closing quarter, Somebody Special was able to track down the pace-setting Black Gold and James Yoder and hold off a late surge from Crystal Swan and LeWayne Miller to get the victory.

Trained by Erv Miller, Somebody Special is undefeated in three starts in her young career. The homebred daughter of Swan For All-Lima Simplicity is owned by Ervin Miller Stable and Geis Enterprise and has now earned $40,700.

Flirtnwiththepilot and Peter Wrenn were able to overcome post ten to go gate-to-wire in the first $67,500 section for the trotting colts and geldings. Stopping the timer in 1:57 1/5, Flirtnwiththepilot was able to hold off the heavily-favored Gruesome Twosome and Daryl Bontrager to get the win by a length.

Trained by Melanie Wrenn, the gelded son of Pilot Discretion-Savannah's Lucy recorded his third win from four lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing Stables, Bottom Line Racing LLC., Hickory Hollow Stables and Wrenn Racing, Flirtnwiththepilot now sports a lifetime bankroll of $51,545.

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Team Wrenn swept the groupings for the colts and geldings as they were also victorious just a few races later with Elhelpski in the other test in 1:56 3/5. Elhelpski made his game-winning move down the backside and held off Flight Number One and John DeLong late in the mile to get the win by nearly two lengths.

With the victory, Elhelpski recorded his second win in just three lifetime starts. Owned in partnership by S&R Racing Stables, Bottom Line Racing LLC. and Wrenn Racing, Elhelpski has now amassed $70,800 in lifetime purse earnings.

Indiana Sires Stakes action returns to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday, August 17 with one $133,000 event for 2-year-old pacing fillies. The 14-race program will also feature a $10,000 guaranteed late Pick 4 pool in races 11-14 and a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 pool in race 14.

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