Who have harness racing's sharpest minds selected in the 2024 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable? Trot Insider will feature 'expert picks' in advance of the deadline for this year's contest.
Joining Nick Gallucci and Greg Blanchard on the panel of experts for 2024 is trainer Jay Hochstetler, voted the 2023 Rising Star Award winner by the United States Harness Writers Association. The Greenfield, Indiana-based Hochstetler hasn't entered a stable the past few seasons but notably finished 13th overall in the 2019 edition of the contest.
We'll give Jay a pass for his absence from the standings of late as he was clearly focused on his actual stable in recent years. His seasonal earnings have progressed from $548,624 in 2021 to $972,069 in 2022 to more than $1.5 million this past year. One of the horses he hopes adds substantially to the earnings of both stables in 2024 is four-year-old trotter Ponda Jet, a horse he trains and his selection in Group H
"We've got him staked to a couple of things outside of Indiana; he's eligible to the Graduate and the Hambletonian Maturity, and I think he's going to be a contender," said Hochstetler. "He had a little issue earlier this year getting gaited up, but his last start he was really good. If everything keeps going well, between the Open trots at Hoosier and couple outside opportunities, I think he should have a really good year."
Ponda Jet (Dover Dan - Pondas Lucky Lady) took a mark of 1:51.4 and finished in the top three in 15 of his 17 sophomore starts, picking up a cheque in each of those appearances to amass a seasonal bankroll of $328,812. He's back in action as a four-year-old, finishing second twice in Open company twice thus far while trotting in 1:52.3 most recently on May 18 at Harrah's Hoosier Park.
Hochstetler's 2024 TROT Magazine Fantasy Stable selections are as follows:
Karl
Jiggy Jog S
M Ms Dream
Tennessee Tom
Gem Quality
Sugar Instead
Captain Luke
Ponda Jet
Glowing Lou
Morrone Dolce
Ascendance
Shes No Stranger
Sparkling Volo
Hatfield
French Riviera
Destiny Deo
Ake Svanstedt
Carmen Auciello
Yannick Gingras
Jason Bartlett
James MacDonald
Tyler Borth
Contestants have until 5 p.m. (EST) on May 24 to make your selections. You cannot change your stable once submitted.
The contest is based on total earnings of selected horses and five percent of the earnings of selected trainers and drivers between May 24, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024. Follow along all year long!
For the purposes of the fantasy bankroll, the winners (horses only) of the 2024 Breeders Crown Finals will each receive a $200,000 contest bankroll bonus. Once again, in the two-year-old categories, you must select TWO horses in each.
At the end of the year, the first three finishers (based on total stable earnings) will be awarded betting vouchers in the amount of $800 (first place), $400 (second place) and $200 (third place).
Full contest rules are available here. Enter your picks below!