Ponda Warrior Makes Dreams Come True with Dan Patch StakesVictory at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

By Kimberly French, for Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

Dean Gillette Photos

Anderson, IN --- The fans lined up along the fence expecting a show in the $310,000 Dan Patch Stakes on Friday (Aug. 11) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and that’s exactly what Ponda Warrior provided as he came from the clouds at 17-1 to capture the 30th edition of the event over Charlie May and Abuckabett Hanover in 1:48.

“I have believed in this horse since Day One,” said trainer Jay Hochstetler after the victory. “He is such a special animal to me. Winning this race with this horse, which I picked out at the sale, is what dreams are made of. It’s just absolutely incredible. This is what I’ve always dreamed about.”

The only horse to ever leave from the trailing post 11 in this race, Ponda Warrior and his pilot, Kyle Wilfong, were content to settle in eighth as Lou’s Pearlman (David Miller) immediately took the lead with a first quarter in :26.1. Abuckabett Hanover and Scott Zeron, however, had other plans and went to the front prior to the half-mile marker. The duo established fractions of :53.1 for the half-mile and 1:20.3 for three-quarters.

As the field turned for home, Charlie May and Brett Miller had moved into second to launch their bid with Ponda Warrior in fifth. As Charlie May and Abuckabett Hanover dueled in the stretch, Ponda Warrior came fourth over with a :25.4 final panel to soar by his rivals and become just the second Indiana-sired horse to win the Dan Patch trophy.

“At the top of the stretch I was just hoping for a check, but he just kept picking up horses,” Hochstetler continued. “He just loves to race, and he loves to chase horses.”

Owned by his trainer, Finkelberg Racing LLC and South of the Tracks Racing Inc., Ponda Warrior is by Rockin Image and out of Sweetnsinful. The 4-year-old stallion’s triumph gave Hochstetler and Wilfong their first win in the Dan Patch in their first appearance. He also is the first locally based horse to ever win this event.

“I can’t put it into words,” Wilfong said. “It was the greatest win of my life. Even though he only raced once this year because he had some bad luck, he raced huge. We knew going into this we had a good chance.”

Ponda Warrior established a new lifetime mark and paid $36.60 to win. He improved his record to 29-11-6-3 and boosted his bankroll to $642,475. Ponda Warrrior is undefeated in two starts this season.With the victory, Ponda Warrior received an automatic nomination to the 2023 edition of the $175,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby slated for Saturday, Sept. 22 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

The race proved to be the perfect ending to a sensational evening of harness racing in front of a packed house for the 29th edition of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s premier harness racing event. The evening’s 15-race card produced a Dan Patch record handle of $1,611,944 besting the total handle of $1,568,105 from 2022.

Live racing continues at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, August 12 with a 12-race card with a 7 p.m. first post. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing schedule, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

 Skyway Brittney pulls 20-1 shocker in the Tom D. Tetrick Memorial

Over the course of the of the Dan Patch Stakes undercard, The Buckeye, David Miller, was feeling right at home in the Hoosier State, picking up three winners on the evening. The final of those victories came with Skyway Brittney, rallying  up the rail at 21-1 to score the upset in the $40,000 Tom D. Tetrick Memorial for filly and mare invite pacers.

Leaving from post two in the field of ten, Miller put Skyway Brittney into play early, landing in third as Maggie Rhee and Joey Putnam cut the opening quarter in a hot 26:2. Miller was content to maintain his place third on the rail as The Pantheist A and Atlee Bender jumped to her outside, leading the charge first-up as Maggie Rhee continued to lead through a half of 54:2. The field began to bunch on the far turn as Maggie Rhee began to feel pressure on the front end at three-quarters in 1:23:0 with Skyway Brittney searching for daylight pinned on the rail in fifth.

The pacing mares turned for home setting the stage for a calvary charge to the finish. With the leader Maggie Rhee drifting off the pylons at the top of the stretch, Miller and Skyway Brittney were poised for a clear shot up the passing lane to victory. Powering home with a 27:0 final quarter, Skyway Brittney took command late in the lane to score the victory by a length in 1:50:3. Elektra A and Kyle Wilfong rallied for place, with The Pantheist A digging in gamely for the show spot.

Trained and co-owned by Zach Miller along with Dessa Miller, Skyway Brittney picked up her fourth victory of the season in her 13th seasonal outing. Bred by Lyle Dean Slabach, the daughter of Rockin Image-Blazing Blaire has now banked $275,685 for her career.  

Crooked Smile Grind Out a Victory in The Haston Memorial

After winning the Open Pace at Running Aces last week, Crooked Smile returned to Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and turned in a dominant effort to capture the $40,000 Gregg Haston Memorial Pace in 1:50.1. After being parked for much of the mile, Crooked Smile found a :27 closing kick to put a head in front of Rocks Shining Star and David Miller.

Putnam urged Crooked Smile off the gate but a host of others also left alertly. General Dolan was the first to get a call through the opening panel in :26.4. Unable to find a spot along the rail, Crooked Smile remained parked through the middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23. Turning for home, Rocks Shining Star was able to wear down General Dolan but his biggest threat was still behind him. Putnam tipped Crooked Smile off cover and he surged late to get up in the final strides of the mile.

“He raced huge tonight,” Putnam noted after the victory. “To win off of that trip is awesome. It’s always nice to get a win on a big night like this and this horse deserved that win.”

Trained by Tim Wilson Jr., Crooked Smile recorded his fourth win from 17 starts this season. Owned in partnership by Wilson Racing & Turn For Home LLC, the gelded son of Panther Hanover—Amilewidesmile notched his 25th lifetime win from 103 trips behind the gate.