Grand Circuit action returns to Harrah’s Hoosier Park Friday, Nov. 4 with four six-figure races highlighting the program. Included in the mix will be several Indiana sired horses, including Ponda Warrior, JK Victory, Yourwishisgranted, Rip Wheeler and The Longest Yard in the $200,000 Monument Circle slated as the 11th race on the card.
Ponda Warrior, from the Jay Hochstetler barn, is back from the Breeders Crown north of the border and comes into the race with a fastest time of 1:49.1. Rip Wheeler from the Walter Haynes Jr. barn, has a time of 1:48.4. Ponda Warrior starts from the second tier at odds of 9-2 for driver Mark MacDonald while Rip Wheeler starts from post three with Brandon Bates at the controls at odds of 15-1. Bythemissal, who has won 12 of 15 starts in 2022, will begin from post nine as the favorite at odds of 6-5 and will be driven by Chris Page for trainer Ron Burke.
In the counterpart for trotters, the $200,000 Carl Erskine is slated as the 9th race and includes Indiana’s standout sophomore Ponda Adventure. The Swan for All gelding will start from post three at odds of 5-2 for Trace Tetrick and Trainer Erv Miller. He has won 12 of 15 starts this season as he steps up to take on open company. King of the North has been tagged as the early morning line favorite at odds of 8-5. The Walner trotter has a mark of 1:50.3 this season and will be driven by Mark MacDonald for Ray Schnittker from post four. Other Indiana starters in the race include Dover in Motion from post five with Ricky Macomber Jr. from the Jamie Macomber barn.
M-M’s Dream and Sam Widger will take on open company in the Crossroads of America during Grand Circuit action Friday, Nov. 4 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Grand Circuit action kicks off with the $100,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers. Sea Silk has grabbed early morning line favorite honors from post one for driver Chris Page out of the Ron Burke Stable, winning seven of 13 tries in 2022. Indiana sired JK’s Rollin Baby and Atlee Bender will begin from post three at odds of 6-1 from the Erv Miller Stable. The JK Endofanera filly has won eight of 18 starts in 2022. Best Place to Be and Sam Widger represent the other Indiana starter from post two at odds of 12-1 for Trainer Mike Roth.
The $110,000 Crossroads of America will highlight three-year-old filly trotters, including Bluebird Dove from post two for Peter and Melanie Wrenn. The Swan for All filly has won eight races this year with a best time of 1:52.2. She begins at odds of 9-2. Luv Lorelei and Robert Taylor will also try their luck against open company from post five at odds of 15-1. The Muscle Massive filly has won four races this season. Other starters in the race from Indiana include M-Ms Dream and David Miller at odds of 2-1 with 11 wins in 12 starts, and Jusmakinyalook and Jordan Ross from post eight at odds of 15-1 as the second entrant from the Robert Taylor barn.