A high wind warning for Harrah’s Hoosier Park didn’t stop the action on the track Thursday, March 12 with Asifbycue and John DeLong pulling in a surprising upset in the second race of the night. The duo rallied home for the win in the $10,000 conditioned claiming event in a time of 1:57.2
Asifbycue began from post eight and left seeking the lead with Ponda Swan and Kyle Wilfong to their outside accompanying them to the lead. Heading into the first turn, Asifbycue slid over to the top spot with Ponda Swan continuing on the outside and taking over at the quarter in :27.4. From there, the field faced a strong head wind down the backside and the tempo slowed down. Dazzling Moni and LeWayne Miller were on the move from the back of the pack and joined Ponda Swan on.t the lead midway through the race in :58.0. Asifbycue had a huge hold on DeLong heading into the final turn.
Ponda Swan was able to maintain her position on the lead coming into the stretch. As Dazzling Moni began to tire, it gave Asifbycue the perfect opportunity to slip to the outside and rally past Ponda Swan. She was on top of the field by several lengths and had her ears pinned back and was all business. She looked to be a clear winner. That’s when Sweetie Hill and Brandon Bates, another long shot in the field, began to rally on the outside from the back of the pack. Both mares were in full stride when they hit the wire with Asifbycue getting the edge by a head over Sweetie Hill. Mr Blutos Express and Trace Tetrick finished third.
Asifbycue was the second longest shot on the board, paying $63.60 for the win. It’s the first time in a very long time a horse driven by John DeLong has paid that much at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Sweetie Hill paid $33.20 for place, returning a $21,566.50 payout for the Exacta. There were no winning tickets in the Superfecta.

Asifbycue is owned by Trent Stohler Stable, Ben and Tim Graber, and John Grubich. Stohler trains the four-year-old Swan for All mare, who was bred by Bob and Lynda Stewart in Kentucky. It was her first win of the year after winning five races last year as a three-year-old. She now has six career wins and nearly $50,000 on her card. Her career best time was taken last year in 1:57.1, just a tick quicker than her win Thursday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. She raced at The Meadows prior to coming back to Indiana for her connections, who acquired her last summer.
Asifbycue is the daughter of True Valentine, who took a mark of 1:55.1 and made more than $172,000 during her racing career. She has a full brother named Nextoyou, who is a two-year-old in 2026.
Later in the card, Goo Goo Won and Travis Seekman scored a win in the evening’s featured $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. The seven-year-old daughter of Fred and Ginger sat patiently in the two hole behind Angel Hill and Trace Tetrick before finding her best stride in the stretch and rallying home in :27.3 for the win in 1:50.4, three-quarters of a length ahead of Yankee B Something and John DeLong. Angel Hill finished third.
Goo Goo Won paid $16.80 for the win. She is a homebred owned by Judy Taylor and was bred by Judy and Howard Taylor. Ron Burke handles the training duties of Goo Goo Won, who has two wins in three starts for 2026. Overall, she has 25 career wins and more than $410,000 in earnings. Her career best time of 1:49.4 was taken as a six-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
