Frankie Frankie and driver Atlee Bender pulled off the 7-1 upset and captured the co-featured event of the evening, the $95,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, Aug. 25.

Stopping the timer in 1:48.2, Frankie Frankie established a new lifetime best and equalled the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings in the process. The 1:48.2 clocking equalled the mark previously established by JK Victory and Trace Tetrick in stakes action last season.

Leaving from post four, Bender sent Frankie Frankie away from the gate firing to grab the early lead through the opening quarter in :27.1.

Frankie Frankie wasn’t on the front for long as Trace Tetrick had the heavy betting favourite, Coach Stefanos, out and on the attack. Coach Stefanos led the field through middle fractions of :54.2 and 1:21.4.

When the field turned for home, Coach Stefanos was still calling the shots but was joined on the outside by Buzzsaw Russ and John DeLong. While the top pair battled on the front, Frankie Frankie found late racing room up the inside and used a :26.2 closing kick to get the victory. Why Not Now and LeWayne Miller utilized a ground-saving trip to finish second while J B Gram and Kyle Wilfong finished third.

Dismissed at odds of 7-1, Frankie Frankie returned $16 for the victory.

Trained by Erv Miller, Frankie Frankie recorded his fourth win from 11 seasonal starts. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Myplaceonthebeach has earned $183,617 in lifetime purse earnings and is owned in partnership by Rocco Ruffolo, Douglas Overhiser and Rick Howles. Frankie Frankie was bred by Victory Hill Farm.

On the trotting side of the stakes action, Ponda Jet got back to his winning ways to deliver as the heavy betting favourite in the $95,000 Indiana Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. With regular pilot Kyle Wilfong in the bike, Ponda Jet dug in gamely late in the lane to stop the timer in 1:52.2 and get the victory over Helpfirstedition and John Delong.

Trained by Jay Hochstetler, Ponda Jet recorded his seventh win from nine trips behind the gate this season. The gelded son of Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady is owned in partnership by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. With the victory, Ponda Jet has now amassed $257,307 in lifetime purse earnings. Ponda Jet was bred by Pond-A-Acres.

Live harness racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, Aug. 26 with 14-race card featuring Indiana Sires Stakes for the three-year-old pacing fillies.

(Hoosier Park)