Anderson, IN – Setting his coordinates to his seventh win in a row, Ponda Jet driven by Kyle Wilfong for trainer Jay Hochstetler cruised to his first win at Hoosier this season in the $22,000 Open trot on Wednesday (April 15).
Taking off out of the gate from post six, Ponda Jet wasted little time moving ahead of the five-horse field to the rail. Trotting to the first turn in :27.1, Ponda Jet was closely followed by Famous Father (Luke Plano) and Operator (Marcus Miller).
At the halfway mark in :56, the field remained unchanged as Ponda Jet raced in stride. Closing in on the three-quarter turn in 1:24.2, Ponda Jet maintained his lead into the stretch. From third, Operator broke out of the slipstream to take aim at his Hochstetler stablemate and rally into second.
Despite a late surge by Operator, Ponda Jet shut down that opportunity picking up where he left off, crossing the wire a length clear in 1:53.2 to visit the winner’s circle for a seventh consecutive time carrying over from last season. Operator obtained second, while Famous Father punched in his ticket for third.
The 6-year-old Dover Dan gelding, owned by Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig, and Allen Schwartz, Ponda Jet increased his career earnings to $815,132.
In addition to the Open Trot, young trotters stepped into the spotlight with a trio of $20,000 Early Closer Finals kicked off by Kousin Karl, who took after his big brother Dover In Motion as he completed the sweep of The Cardinal series.
Leaving from the rail in the field of nine Indiana Sired Trotters who were non-winners of one as of March 15, Trace Tetrick floated away into fourth with the 1-9 favorite while West Stokes (Brandon Bates) trotted to the top through a quarter of :28.4. Kousin Karl brushed to the lead on the backstretch, taking command just after a half of :59 before trotting to three-quarters in 1:28.4. Turning away a first-over bid from Double A Catalac (Kevin Lambright), who would hold for third, Kousin Karl cruised to a 1-¾ length victory over a rail-skimming Nighthawk Zette (LeWayne Miller) to stop the timer in 1:56.4.
Trained by Ron Burke, Kousin Karl has now won four of five during his 3-year-old rookie campaign, with each of those victories coming consecutively. The Dover Dan-Keystone Sadie gelding has banked $27,500 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Knox Services.
The Burke Brigade came right back in the next series final, sweeping the trifecta in the Chad E. Carlton trotting series with August Salazar and driver John De Long coming out on top for non-winners of two trotters.
The 4-5 favorite from post seven, August Salazar trotted to the top through a quarter of :28.1 before releasing Inverness Ave (Kevin Lambright) to the lead before the half in :57.3. Madam President (Trace Tetrick) took up the chase first-over on the far turn, pressuring Inverness Ave to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. The rail opened for August Salazar to fire through and chase down Madam President, before fending off an upset bid by Make It Spicy (Kyle Wilfong), who rallied between her stablemates to be second with August Salazar winning by a neck in 1:54.4.
The 3-year-old Big Stick Lindy-Girls Gone Lindy colt is now two-for-two in his 3-year-old year. The clocking established a new career best for the eight-time career winner who has banked $136,535 lifetime for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Michael Rosenthal.
De Long delivered once more in the last series final, this time at 26-1 aboard Swan Girl as she rallied to take the Mya Tri final for Indiana Sired Filly & Mare Trotters who were non-winners of one or $10,000 lifetime.
While the 2-5 favorite, Golden Notes, jumped it off behind the gate, Meadowbrook Dora (Mike Peterson) grabbed control of the field with a :27.3 first quarter while De Long angled Swan Girl into fifth. Whip It (Joey Putnam) moved to the lead from the pocket, reaching the half in :57.2 before coming under siege from Ponda Perfect (LeWayne Miller) at three-quarters in 1:27.1 with Swan Girl poised to strike from second-over. Swan Girl ripped off cover in the stretch, powering clear in the lane to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4 over Preciate Yall (Atlee Bender) and Meadowbrook Dora.
Trained by Missy Essig, the victory broke the maiden of Swan Girl in her third start this season and 13th try lifetime. The 3-year-old daughter of Swan For All-Photo Girl has banked $28,705 lifetime for owners Russ Beeman, Charles Weaver and Elite Five Racing.
Racing continues on Thursday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with a 14-race program beginning at 5:30 p.m. The card features a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 (races 11-14) and $10,000 guaranteed Late High 5 (race 14) done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program.
About Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
Harrah’s Hoosier Park, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and team member culture. Harrah’s Hoosier Park, a fully-integrated gaming and racing facility, features the newest slots, live table games, sports wagering, and a 7/8 mile oval horse track offering live harness racing each year. For more information, please visit www.HarrahsHoosierPark.com. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2026 Caesars License Company, LLC.