Ponda Warrior delivered a win for the hometown team as he burst onto the scene late to post a 17-1 stunner in the $310,000 Dan Patch Stakes for free-for-all pacers on Friday night (Aug. 11) at Hoosier Park.

One of two trailers in the 11-horse field, Ponda Warrior followed overland in eighth before unleashing :25.4 final quarter speed to swoop to victory in the 30th installment of Indiana’s richest harness race. The four-year-old son of Rockin Image out of Sweetnsinful lowered his lifetime mark to 1:48 flat with Hoosier catch-driver Kyle Wilfong working out the winning trip for local trainer Jay Hochstetler, who co-owns with Finkelberg Racing LLC and South Of The Tracks Rac I.

“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.”

Canadian favourite Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) was parked through a :26.1 opening quarter before progressing to the top after a pair of early lead changes. He took over from Lous Pearlman (David Miller) down the backstretch then Abuckabett Hanover (Scott Zeron) moved back out for the retake after being shuffled to third, hitting the half in :53.1.

Abuckabett Hanover continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:20.3 with Charlie May (Brett Miller) advancing first-over and bearing down in the stretch, but Ponda Warrior was flying from the backfield and went right on by to score by 1-3/4 lengths. Charlie May edged out Abuckabett Hanover and the late-closing Little Rocket Man (John De Long) in a three-way photo finish for second. Lous Pearlman picked up a fifth-place cheque and went over the million-dollar mark in career earnings.

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

Undefeated in two starts this season, Indiana Sires Stakes graduate Ponda Warrior picked up the biggest win of his career and sent his lifetime earnings over the $500,000 mark. He now sports a career record reading 11-6-3 from 29 starts.

“I can’t put it into words,” said Wilfong of the win. “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 became the first locally based horse and just the second Indiana-sired horse to win the Dan Patch Stakes.

He returned $36.60 for the upset win.

With the victory, Ponda Warrior received an automatic nomination to the 2023 edition of the $175,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, which is scheduled  for Saturday, Sept. 22.

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.

Dan Patch Undercard Invitationals To Skyway Brittney, Crooked Smile

Over the course 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 was with Skyway Brittney, rallying up the pylons at 21-1 to score an upset in the $40,000 Tom D. Tetrick Memorial for filly and mare Invitational pacers.

Leaving from post two in the field of 10, Miller put Skyway Brittney into play early, landing in third as Maggie Rhee (Joey Putnam) cut the opening quarter in a hot :26.2. Miller was content to maintain his place third along the pylons as The Pantheist A (Atlee Bender) jumped to her outside, leading the charge first-up as Maggie Rhee continued to front the field through a half of :54.2. The field began to bunch up on the far turn as Maggie Rhee began to feel pressure at three-quarters in 1:23 with Skyway Brittney searching for daylight pinned inside fourth.

The pacing mares turned for home setting the stage for a cavalry 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 final quarter, Skyway Brittney took command late in the lane to score the victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.3. Elektra A (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 five-year-old daughter of Rockin Image-Blazing Blaire has now banked $275,685 for her career.  

After winning the Open Pace at Running Aces last week, Crooked Smile returned to Hoosier Park and turned in a dominant effort to capture the $40,000 Gregg Haston Memorial Pace in 1:50.1 with Joey Putnam in the driver's seat. After being parked for much of the mile, Crooked Smile found a :27 closing kick to prevail by a half-length over Rocks Shining Star (David Miller).

Putnam urged Crooked Smile off the gate but a host of others also left alertly. Favourite General Dolan (Trace Tetrick) was the first to get a call through the opening panel in :26.4. Unable to find a spot along the pylons, 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,” said Putnam after the race. “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 Stable and Turn For Home Racing, the six-year-old Panther Hanover-Amilewidesmile gelding notched his 25th lifetime win from 103 trips behind the gate.

(With files from Hoosier Park)