The stars put on a show at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday, July 13 with Ponda Jet becoming the fastest trotter in track history in the $28,767 Open Trot while Lets Go Endofaera took the $130,822 fourth leg of Indiana Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The Open served as the eighth race on the evening and Ponda Jet (pictured above) returned to his homebase to team up with driver Kyle Wilfong as the 3-5 favourite in the field of six. Leaving from post five, Wilfong wasted little time getting to the front, reaching the first quarter in a sizzling :26.2.
Wilfong kept his foot on the gas on the way to the halfway point in :54.2 as second choice Lexus Kody (Devon Tharps) tipped to the outside from last to begin the trek first-over. Ponda Jet led the charge into the final turn to reach three-quarters first in 1:22.2 as Lexus Kody worked ever-closer, moving into third on the outside.
The battle was on turning for home, with Lexus Kody reaching the wheel of Ponda Jet at the top of the stretch. Ponda Jet responded gamely to the challenge, battling to the wire with a :27.3 final quarter to fend off Lexus Kody by a half-length in 1:50. Flagman (Rick Plano) finished in the show position.
Trained by Jay Hochstetler, Ponda Jet has now won three of 10 on the season for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. The four-year-old gelded son of Dover Dan-Pondas Lucky Lady has banked $479,770 lifetime following his 12th career victory.
The 1:50 clocking lowered the all-time trotting track record of 1:50.3 previously established by Whata Swan in May 2022 and matched by Its Academic in the 2023 Caesars Trotting Classic. Ponda Jet also lowered the previous track record for an aged trotting geldings of 1:51 established by Flagman in July 2023.
The on-track fireworks weren’t yet finished as Lets Go Endofaera emerged atop a wild scramble in the Indiana Sire Stakes for the sophomore pacing fillies.
Driver John De Long tucked Lets Go Endofaera into the third position off the gate while Jada Caroline (Marvin Luna) led to the quarter in :26.3 under pressure from Teelatini (Pete Wrenn). Teelatini cleared on the backstretch to lead to the half in :54.4 while Flirtin Fanera (Ricky Macomber Jr.) tipped from fifth to establish the outer flow.
Teelatini continued to lead the field to three-quarters in 1:23 as Lets Go Endofaera found herself buried third in line on the rail and fifth overall turning for home.
In the stretch, Flirtin Fanera put away Teelatini before Lyin Eyes (Joey Putnam) tipped off her back to make her move while Lets Go Endofaera still desperately searched for room behind the leaders. Daylight finally came in the final sixteenth to Lets Go Endofaera, who was able to explode home in :26.1 through a tight gap in between Flirtin Fanera and Jada Caroline to cross the line 1-1/2 lengths clear in a lifetime best 1:49.4. Lyin Eyes got up for second, Jada Caroline was third and Flirtin Fanera rounded out the superfecta tickets in fourth. Lets Go Endofaera paid $10 for the win.
The victory was the third in four seasonal outings for the Tabby De Long trainee. The daughter of JK Endofanera-Lets Go Higher is owned by John and William C Delong, along with breeder Jesse De Long. A winner of the Super Final at age two, Lets Go Endofaera now sports a lifetime bankroll of $426,873 following her eighth career victory.
Racing returns to Hoosier Park on Tuesday, July 16 with a 13-race card set to get underway at 6:15 p.m. The Tuesday card will include an $7,500 guarantee on the Early Pick 5 in Races 1-5 ($1,020.62 carryover) to go along with a carryover of $14,984.95 in the Jackpot Pick 6 (Races 8-13) and $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High 5 (Race 13).
(Hoosier Park)