A trio of divisions of round one of the Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings headlined the action on the Thursday, July 9 card at Hoosier Park with Ponda Solve, Nectar Of The Gods and So Joyful all taking victories.
In the $65,714 first split, Ponda Solve and leading driver Trace Tetrick wired the field for trainer Ron Burke.
Leaving out of post three, Ponda Solve was intent on snagging the lead off the gate, fending off Broadway Tempo (Doug Rideout) to reach the quarter on top in :28.4. The field remained unchanged with Ponda Solve at the helm to the halfway mark in :59.2. Favourite Heffae (Lamar Wingard) looked to go first-over on the leader as Ponda Solve ticked off the three-quarters in 1:29.1, and the challenger battled along the outside of the pacesetter into the stretch. Ponda Solve held firm to the line, reaching home a 1:57.2 winner by a measured length over Heffae, with Steppinouttohelp (Robert Taylor) rallying for show.
Ponda Solve achieved his first pari-mutuel win in career start number two. The son of Swan For All-Resolving has now earned $34,914 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Lawrence Karr, Michael Rosenthal and Knox Services Inc. The two-year-old was bred by Ponda-A-Acres and Fashion Hill Farm. He paid $4 to win.
Nectar Of The Gods rallied home in :27.3 with trainer Mike Micallef in the sulky to win the $66,429 second split.
The five-horse field settled into line before the first turn, but Nectar Of The Gods was out and moving to the quarter in :29.1 with Rockinrowdy (Jared Finn) in front. Nectar Of The Gods took the advantage coming off the first turn before being leapfrogged by Starboard (Jordan Ross) nearing the half-mile pole in :59.4. Copperstone (Kyle Husted) wheeled first-over on the far turn to move alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:29.4 and threw down with Starboard as they raced for home. Nectar Of The Gods made it a three-horse race in deep-stretch and powered past his rivals late to win by a half-length in 1:57.4. Starboard was second with Copperstone third.
Owned by Bet The House LLC and bred by Steve Jones, Nectar Of The Gods is one-for-two lifetime after finishing second in his debut. The Temporal Hanover-Goddess colt boosted his lifetime earnings to $37,500. He paid $6.40 at the windows.
In the $66,429 final division, So Joyful and driver John De Long utilized a backside brush en route to a dominant victory for trainer Ernie Gaskin.
So Joyful was away third from post two while Diamond Popper (Brandon Bates) took command to the opening quarter in :29.1. So Joyful then blitzed to the top before the half in 1:00.2 and trotted to three-quarters in 1:30 ahead by 2-1/2 lengths. From there, the colt sprinted away, trotting home in :27.4 to hit the wire 4-1/2 lengths clear in 1:57.4. Royal Response (Markus Niklasson) rallied for second, with Diamond Popper holding third.
So Joyful took his first win in his second try and has now earned $34,071. The son of Rebuff-Skateaway was bred by Luckiana Farm and Aaron Stutzman and is owned by All-Wright Racing LLC, Brian Code and James Nellinger. The win price was $14.20.
Under the Friday-night lights, Hoosier Park hosts a 14-race card continuing INSS action with the first leg for rookie male pacers. Harrisburg Heist returns to the track for a loaded $22,000 USD Open Handicap Pace in Race 9 also featuring millionaires Coach Stefanos and Little Rocket Man.
(With files from Hoosier Park)