Off of a banner year in 2023, driver Kyle Wilfong broke through yet again in 2024, earning his 2,000th career driving victory on Saturday, April 27 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
Entering the Saturday card just one shy of the milestone, Wilfong steered Late Nite Hawk to victory for his father, Brett Wilfong.
Leaving from post three, Wilfong was on a mission from the outset, hustling Late Nite Hawk to the lead in the field of Open 2/Open 3 trotters through a first quarter of :28.3. Late Nite Hawk had things his way to the halfway point in :57 before Wilfong looked for separation entering the far turn. Southwind Cherry and Tyler Smith were the first to engage Late Nite Hawk, reaching the leader’s wheel at three-quarters in 1:25.2 as Late Nite Hawk looked to counter and quicken under Wilfong urging. In the stretch, Southwind Cherry made a menacing move, however, Late Nite Hawk would not be denied, rebuffing the pressure with a :27.4 final quarter to secure the victory in 1:53.1.
The 33-year-old Illinois native had a career year in 2023, wracking up $3.5 million in earnings while steering 197 horses to victory. His 2023 season was highlighted by winning the $310,000 Dan Patch Stakes aboard Ponda Warrior for trainer Jay Hochstetler in 1:48.1. The Wilfong/Hochstetler proved to be a potent duo for much of the 2023 season, as Wilfong also piloted Ponda Title for the entirety of a season in which she banked $483,420 capped off by a victory in the Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final. Wilfong completed the 2023 racing season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park third in the driver standings behind only Trace Tetrick and John De Long. For his career, Wilfong has racked up more than $18.5 million in career earnings in 16,218 career drives.
Wilfong carried the momentum of 2023 into 2024 where he currently finds himself atop the drivers standings at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Wilfong has driven 32 winners through the young racing season, 22-year-old Marvin Luna is in second with 30, with John De Long rounding out the podium with 26.
Live harness racing will resume at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, May 1 with a 14-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. Hoosier Park will also have an early post time on Saturday, May 4 on Kentucky Derby day, with a 12-race card kicking off at 4 p.m. to go along with a host of derby festivities and promotions.
(Hoosier Park)