Ponda Jet, driven by Kyle Wilfong for trainer Jay Hochstetler, cruised to his seventh consecutive victory and his first win at Hoosier Park this season in the $30,556 Open Trot on Wednesday, April 15.

Taking off out of post five, Ponda Jet moved ahead of his five rivals and trotted to the quarter in :27.1 with Famous Father (Luke Plano) and Operator (Marcus Miller) in tow. Ponda Jet led through the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.2, extending his lead as he turned for the stretch while Operator shifted out from third to take aim at his Hochstetler stablemate. Operator closed in, but Ponda Jet was game to the line and reached home a length clear in 1:53.2 for his seventh straight visit to the winner's circle, dating back to last season. Operator finished second, while Famous Father was third.

Ponda Jet, a six-year-old Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady gelding, is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. He increased his career earnings to $961,846 with his 36th victory from 78 starts.

In addition to the Open Trot, young trotters stepped into the spotlight with a trio of $27,778 early-closer finals. Kousin Karl kicked off the action as he completed the sweep of The Cardinal series for Indiana-sired non-winners of one or $10,000 USD as of March 15.

Trace Tetrick floated the 1-9 favourite away into fourth while West Stokes (Brandon Bates) trotted to the top through a quarter of :28.4. Kousin Karl brushed to the lead on the backstretch, taking command just after a half of :59 before trotting to three-quarters in 1:28.4. Turning away a first-over bid from Double A Catalac (Kevin Lambright), who would hold for third, Kousin Karl cruised to a 1-3/4-length victory over a rail-skimming Nighthawk Zette (LeWayne Miller) and stopped the timer in 1:56.4.

Trained by Ron Burke, Kousin Karl ($2.20) has now won four straight races after breaking stride in his career debut in February. The three-year-old Dover Dan-Keystone Sadie gelding has banked $237,956 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Knox Services.

The Burke Brigade dominated the next event, sweeping the triactor in the Chad E. Carlton Trotting Series final with August Salazar and driver John De Long coming out on top in the race for non-winners of two or $30,000 USD as of March 13.

The 4-5 favourite from post seven, August Salazar trotted to the top through a quarter of :28.1 before releasing Inverness Ave (Kevin Lambright) to the lead before the half in :57.3. Madam President (Trace Tetrick) took up the chase first-over on the far turn, pressuring Inverness Ave to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. The rail opened for August Salazar in the stretch, and he fired through and chased down Madam President before fending off an upset bid by Make It Spicy (Kyle Wilfong) by a neck to score in 1:54.4. Make It Spicy rallied between her stablemates to be second. The Burke trio was covered by three-quarters of a length at the finish.

The winning three-year-old Big Stick Lindy-Girls Gone Lindy colt is now two-for-two in his three-year-old year. The clocking established a new career best for the eight-time winner who has earned $189,496 in 19 lifetime outings. August Salazar ($3.60) is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Baldachino and Michael Rosenthal.

De Long delivered again in the last series final, this time aboard 26-1 shot Swan Girl as she rallied to take the Mya Tri final for Indiana-sired distaffs who were non-winners of one or $10,000 USD lifetime as of March 15.

After the 2-5 favourite, Golden Notes (Kyle Wilfong), jumped it off behind the gate, Meadowbrook Dora (Mike Peterson) grabbed control of the field with a :27.3 first quarter while De Long angled Swan Girl into fifth. Whip It (Joey Putnam) then moved to the front from the pocket, reaching the half in :57.2 before coming under siege from Ponda Perfect (LeWayne Miller) at three-quarters in 1:27.1 with Swan Girl poised to strike from second-over. Swan Girl ripped off cover in the stretch and powered clear in the lane to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4 over Preciate Yall (Atlee Bender). Meadowbrook Dora was third.

Trained by Missy Essig, Swan Girl ($54.80) broke her maiden in her third start this season and 13th try lifetime. The three-year-old daughter of Swan For All-Photo Girl, owned by Russ Beeman, Charles Weaver and Elite Five Racing, has banked $39,574 lifetime.

Racing continues on Thursday at Hoosier Park with a 14-race program beginning at 5:30 p.m. The card features a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (Races 11-14) and $10,000 guaranteed Late High 5 (Race 14) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program. 

(With files from Hoosier Park)