The path to victory was clear in round five of Indiana Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with the pocket-sitter prevailing in all three divisions. Ponda Fashion and Classical Jane each scored upsets at double-digit odds, while Better Takem was the lone favourite to take home her $61,487 split.

Ponda Fashion (pictured above) was sent away at 11-1 from post six in the field of seven with regular pilot Kyle Wilfong in tow for the first division.

Wilfong hustled Ponda Fashion towards the front early, grabbing good position in the pocket behind 1-5 favourite Miracle Maven (John De Long) through a quarter of :28.1. The field remained single-file to the half in :57.3 before the lead duo began to open up on the final turn, trotting well clear through three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Turning for home, De Long began to go to work on Miracle Maven with Wilfong yet to move Ponda Fashion off his helmet midway through the lane. Wilfong waited for the passing lane to open up before timing his move perfectly with Ponda Fashion, rocketing home in :27.3 to reach the wire a half length in front of Miracle Maven in 1:55.1. Bluebird Lola (Trace Tetrick) finished third, four lengths back of the winner.

The clocking was a lifetime best for the Jay Hochstetler trained daughter of Crescent Fashion out of the Big Stick Lindy mare, Pondas Lucky Lady. The half-sister to Harrah’s Hoosier Park track record holder and Hochstetler stablemate, Ponda Jet, has won three of six on the season. Bred by Pond-A-Acres, the earner of $91,054 is owned by Connie and Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz.

Driver Jordan Ross teamed up with trainer Henry Graber Jr. to snag the final two Sire Stakes divisions on the card, the first coming with 3-5 favourite Better Takem in the second split.

Leaving from post six, Ross inherited the lead going into the first turn after M-Ms Charm (Pete Wrenn) jumped it off during a leave attempt, guiding the fillies to the quarter in :28.3. Woodside Izz (LeWayne Miller) passed on finding a seat on the first turn and took command of the field on the backstretch, leading the fillies to the half in :58. Due to a trio of early breakers, there were four fillies left in contention on the far turn with Woodside Izz leading the charge to three-quarters in 1:28.2.

Better Takem popped pocket turning for home, quickly assuming command from Woodside Izz. Trotting home in :27.4, Better Takem trotted confidently to a 2-3/4 length victory over Woodside Izz in 1:56.2. GV Miss Stephen (James Yoder) crossed the wire third, eight lengths back at 82-1.

Through six starts, Better Takem has yet to finish worse than second with three victories and three runner-up finishes. Owned by Henry Graber Jr. and Elven Star Stables, the $15,000 yearling buy at the Hoosier Classic has banked $147,447. Steven Mast bred the daughter from the first crop of Dont Letem out of the Cantab Hall mare, Barmaid.

The Ross/Graber Jr. combo delivered much better value for the bettors with their second stakes score when Classical Jane got up at 11-1 in the third and final division.

Classical Jane made quick work of the outside post seven, crossing over to the pylons in front through a quarter of :28.3. Trace Tetrick sent 2-5 favourite Swan Jewel to the lead from third on the backstretch, giving the pocket ride to Classical Jane to the half in :58.2. Swan Jewel had things her way on the far turn, reaching the three-quarter pole first in 1:27.4.

Tipping from the pocket at the top of the stretch, Classical Jane quickly pulled alongside Swan Jewel to grab a short lead with an eighth of a mile to go. From there, Classical Jane wore down Swan Jewel to trot clear by 1-1/4 lengths over the favourite on the wire in 1:56.4. Sweetasmoni (Wilfong) rallied for the show spot.

After breaking her maiden in leg four of Indiana Sire Stakes at 22-1 in her last outing, the win was the second in seven career outings for Classical Jane. The daughter of Swan For All-Class Angel is owned by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino, Beasty LLC and Backroad Stables. Steve Mast bred Classical Jane who sports earnings of $85,491.

The week of racing continues on Wednesday (Sept. 4) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. The two-year-old trotting colts step into the spotlight with a pair of $66,500 USD divisions of their fifth and penultimate leg in races five and eight.

(Hoosier Park)