Anderson, IN — Ponda Jet continued his winning ways at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino after he captured Thursday’s (June 15) featured $95,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings in 1:53.3. Ponda Jet pushed his undefeated streak to five and remains undefeated in stakes action this season for trainer Jay Hochstetler and driver Kyle Wilfong.

Talent Scout and Peter Wrenn left alertly to get the first call through the opening quarter in :26.2 with Texsong Soprano (driven by Michael Oosting) grabbing a pocket seat and Ponda Jet next in line in third. As the field approached the second station, Wilfong gave Ponda Jet the green light, and he ranged up to grab command just before the half in :56.

Ponda Jet led the field to the three-quarters in 1:26 as Helpfirstedition (John DeLong) applied pressure from first-over. The stage was set for an epic battle to the wire, and the top pair did not disappoint. Just when it appeared Helpfirstedition had momentum on the outside, Ponda Jet refused to lose and found another gear. Using a :27.3 closing quarter, Ponda Jet staved off a game Helpfirstedition. Know Stopping Now (Brandon Bates) was a hard-charging third.

Ponda Jet dug deep to repel Helpfirstedition and remain undefeated in ISS action this season. Dean Gillette Photography.

“That was an incredible effort,” Hochstetler noted after the victory. “For him to get the win after all of that is just incredible. He’s more manageable this year than he was last year, and that has made all the difference.”

The son of Dover Dan-Ponda’s Lucky Lady recorded his fifth win of the season from five starts and sixth lifetime victory from 16 trips behind the gate. Ponda Jet, who was bred by Pond-A-Acres, pushed his lifetime earnings to $160,950 for owners Connie Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. He returned $4.00 to win.

The victory was also one of two winners on the evening’s 14-race card for driver Kyle Wilfong.

Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Friday (June 16) with a 14-race card featuring the $97,500 Indiana Sires Stakes for the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, a $12,500 guaranteed Early Pick-5 (races 1-5) with a $3,282.66 carryover, and a $10,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in race 14.

Harrah’s Hoosier Park 30th season of harness racing features the track’s richest open stakes schedule to date. Worth over a combined $12 million, the 160-day season will be the most lucrative stakes program in the track’s history culminated by hosting the 40th edition of the Breeders Crown events in October. Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s premier pacing event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, is slated for Aug. 11, and the coveted Breeders Crown events will take place Oct. 27-28. For more information on the upcoming live racing schedule or live entertainment at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.