Anderson, IN – A trio of divisions for round one of Indiana Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters headlined the action Thursday (July 9) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with Ponda Solve, Nectar Of The Gods, and So Joyful all taking home victories.
In the $46,000 first split, it was Ponda Solve and leading driver Trace Tetrick wiring the field for trainer Ron Burke.
Leaving out of post 3, Ponda Solve was intent on snagging the lead, fending off Broadway Tempo (driven by Doug Rideout) to fire past the first turn in :28.4. Single file down the backstretch, the field remained unchanged with Ponda Solve focused at the helm, reaching the halfway mark in :59.2. Favorite Heffae (Lamar Wingard) looked to go first-over on the leader before Ponda Solve ticked off the three-quarters in 1:29.1. Heffae battled along the outside hoping to catch a slip up from Ponda Solve, but the Swan For All colt finished the race how he started – in front. He hit the wire in 1:57.2, a measured length in front of Heffae. Steppinouttohelp (Robert Taylor) rallied for third.
Ponda Solve achieved his first ever pari-mutuel win in career start number two. Ponda Solve is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Lawrence Karr, Michael Rosenthal and Knox Services Inc. The 2-year-old was bred by Ponda-A-Acres and Fashion Hill Farm.
Finding favor down the stretch, Nectar Of The Gods scored the winning knockout blow a couple races later with trainer Mike Micallef in the sulky.
The five horses in the field found their spots with ease, setting out the order to the first turn in :29.1 with Rockinrowdy (Jared Finn) leading and Nectar Of The Gods hovering close behind. Immediately after the turn, Nectar Of The Gods steamrolled along the outside to take the advantage before being leapfrogged by Starboard (Jordan Ross) at 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. Copperstone did not slow down there, motoring past the leader. Wanting in on a piece of the action, Nectar Of The Gods made it a three-horse race, storming the stretch in :27.3, striking the wire in 1:57.4 a half-length clear. Starboard was second while Copperstone settled for third.
Owned by Bet The House LLC and bred by Steve Jones, Nectar Of The Gods paid $6.40 to win. The Temporal Hanover colt boosted his lifetime earnings to $26,250 for the first win of the 2-year-old’s lifetime.
In the $46,500 third and final division, So Joyful and driver John DeLong utilized a backside brush en route to victory for trainer Ernie Gaskin.
Leaving from post 2, So Joyful was away third while Diamond Popper (Brandon Bates) took command early to the opening quarter in :29.1. DeLong right-lined So Joyful from there, blitzing to the top before the half in 1:00.2, then trotting to three-quarters 2-1/2 lengths clear in 1:30. From there So Joyful 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 sway for third.
It was the first win in the second try for So Joyful, who is owned by All-Wright Racing, Brian Code and James Nellinger. The son of Rebuff was bred by Luckiana Farm and Aaron Stutzman and has a career bankroll of $23,850.
Under the Friday night (July 10) lights, Hoosier Park welcomes a 14-race card continuing Indiana Sire Stakes action with the first legs for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Also, Downbytheseaside gelding Harrisburg Heist returns to Hoosier Park for a loaded $22,000 Open Pace in race 9 featuring millionaires Coach Stefanos and Little Rocket Man.