Determined to get back to the winner’s circle, Ponda Jet prevailed n a gritty finish to take home the $31,429 Open Trot in the Jim Wilson Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Receiving clearance out of the wings, Ponda Jet soared out of post two for driver Kyle Wilfong while Finite (Trace Tetrick) took off for the early lead in :27.1. Ponda Jet transitioned to the outside on the turn taking the crown back through the half-mile marker in :56.4. In control of the tempo, Ponda Jet stayed in comfortable territory to the final quarter turn in 1:25.3. Finite primed for a rematch at Ponda Jet's heels. Ponda Jet was not willing to be denied flying through the wire to win by a quarter length in 1:52.4. Finite settled for second, while Csflying Copilot (Brandon Bates) got up for third.

Owned by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz and trained by Jay Hochstetler, Ponda Jet secured his first win since July 25 for his sixth of the season. The six-year-old Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady gelding increased his lifetime earnings to $1,079,050.

In race eight, Lyin Eyes driven by Joey Putnam won her second straight $31,429 Fillies/Mares Open Pace for trainer Joe Putnam.

Leaving from post five, Lyin Eyes hunkered in to stay covered behind the leader Goo Goo Won (Kyle Wilfong) through the opening chapter in :27. With none of the pacers making a move, the field saw no change from the opening quarter to the halfway mark in :56.3. Reason To Shine A was the first to react before stalling on the turn in fourth, while Goo Goo Won raced to three-quarters in 1:25 with Lyin Eyes poised to strike from the pocket. Lyin Eyes accelerated off the back of the leader in the stretch smashing the wire in 1:52 by three quarters of a length. Goo Goo Won held on for second as Cantouchthese (Marcus Miller) rallied late for third.

Lyin Eyes earned her fourth win of the year, boosting her lifetime earnings to $713,225. The Odds On Equuleus - Miswave Hanover mare is owned by JP Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC.

Live racing returns to Hoosier Park for Hoosier Champions week on Wednesday, Oct. 3 featuring a $5,202 carryover in the Pick 6 (races 4-9), the $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (races 11-14) and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 (race 14). The 14-race card on Wednesday features 13 10-horse fields, with 138 horses in the box on the evening. First post is 5:30 p.m.

(Hoosier Park)