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Photo by Dean Gillette


Bam Bam and Atlee Bender turned in a knockout performance Friday, April 17 in the $20,000 final of the Jerry Landess Series. The three-year-old earned a new lifetime mark in the effort in a time of 1:52.4.

 

Bam Bam came into the race with one win and one second in his young career. He began from post two and used a little early speed to slide into the three hole as Vel See you later and Clint Coy were the first leaders at the quarter in :29.0. They were overtaken by Ilikeitlikethat and Brandon Bates at the half in :57.2. Heading into the final turn, Bam Bam was out and moving forward and passing up rivals with every stride.

 

In the stretch, Bam Bam took over and took off. He rallied home in :27.1 for the win by three and one-half lengths for a knockout punch to his opponents. Vel See You Later crossed the wire next, but made a break late in the lane and was placed back to third, moving Don’t Cuss Russ and John DeLong up to second.

 

Bam Bam was the favorite of the field, paying $2.60 for the win. The Tellitlikeitis three-year-old is owned by Anthony Lombardi, Engel Stable of IL and Tony Willinger. Erv Miller trains the gelding, who was unraced at two. Bam Bam was a $46,000 yearling purchase from the Walker Standardbred Sale in Illinois. His dam, Podges Lady, took a mark of 1:51.4 and made more than $400,000 and has become a very productive brood mare. She is the dam of six winners in seven foals, including Sams Triple Crown with a mark of 1:49.1 and General Ward, who has more than $300,000 on his card. Of the six winners, four have six figures on their card. The family has a two-year-old this year, an Illinois bred by Somestarsomewhere named Fox Valley Kravitz and a yearling this year, also by Somestarsomewhere named Fox Valley Equinox.

 

In the race before the Landess final, Crooked Smile and Jordan Ross scored a win in 1:49.2 in the upper conditioned pace. After sitting in second behind M-M’s Bud and John DeLong, they found room to maneuver in the lane and rallied home to a length win over Sanday A and Trae Tetrick. Gorgeous Big Guy and Kyle Wilfong finished third.

 

Crooked Smile was a longshot, paying $26.40 for the victory. The nine-year-old Panther Hanover gelding is owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Turn For Home Racing. Tim Wilson Jr. trains the veteran pacer, who earned his second win in his fourth start this year. Overall, he has 40 wins and more than $625,000 in earnings. His career best time of 1:48.4 was taken last year as an eight-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. He has now won at least once in a sub 1:50 time the past six years of his career.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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By Tammy Knox July 16, 2026
Photo by Dean Gillette Ican Hardly Wait was very patient Wednesday, July 15 and turned in a big final eighth to score a win in her very first start at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Kevin Lambright guided the freshman trotter to victory in a time of 2:01.3, a final quarter in :27.1. Ican Hardly Wait began from post seven and that is where she got away. Rollin G Forces and Anthony Miller took over the top spot from an inside post with Bluebird Tempor and Ross Leonard getting the two-hold behind the leader. After the quarter in :29.2, Vel Foxy Pedro and LeWayne Miller moved to the outside in front of Ican Hardly Wait and sprinted up to the leaders. Ican Hardly Wait moved to the outside with intentions of getting a second over trip, but Vel Foxy Pedro had moved away from her too quickly, so she was left on the outside in mid pack through the final half. At the head of the lane, Rollin G Forces was still in command on the inside and Vel Foxy Pedro was applying pressure on the outside. Ican Hardly wait tipped to the outside and was still in fifth, but was within striking distance. As the field moved to the wire, Ican Hardly Wait hit another gear and rallied past all her opponents, getting the win by one length over Rollin G Forces. Bluebird Tempor finished third. Ican Hardly Wait was a big longshot, paying $57.00 for the win. The Temporal Hanover filly is owned by Ira Steinberg and trained by Daryl Bontrager. Ican Hardly Wait was bred by Thomas Svensen in New Jersey. She was purchased by Bontrager out of the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale(MSHS) under the name Casual Style for $11,000. Ironically, Rollin G Forces sold two yearlings later in the MSHS for $9,000. Later in the card, another Temporal Hanover freshman scored a win as Temporals Dream and Trace Tetrick scored their division of Indiana Sired non winners of one in 1:58.2. Temporals Dream got away in fourth as Like A Rock G and Kyle Wilfong took over the top spot early. However Temporals Dream did not sit back and follow along. He was out before the half and continued to pursue the top spot until he got it at the head of the lane. Temporals Dream trotted home in :28.1 to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. Dashing Dover and Peter Wrenn closed in for second while Rebum and Brandon Bates finished third. Temporals Dream paid $4.40 as one of the favorites. Silver Bit Equine and John McGill own the two-year-old. Martin Hilty bred and raised the gelding with Walter Haynes Jr. now serving as trainer.
By Tammy Knox July 15, 2026
Leapnpetesonhisway and Logan Loney showed the way to the finish line Tuesday, July 14 in a division of the Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace during Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) action at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. The colt paced the Doc McClain Memorial track in a time of 1:59.4 for the win. A second tier start delayed Leapnpetesonhisway’s move to the front as he followed Premier Finaltouch and Ronald Burks out of the gate and to the quarter in :30.1. It was then time for Leapnpetesonhisway to be on his way. He was out and moving at the half in 1:01.2 before taking over the top spot. Heading into the final turn, the colt began to place more distance between him and the rest of the field. Heading into the stretch, Leapnpetesonhisway was well under wraps by Loney to win by three and three-quarter lengths in 1:59.4, a final quarter in :28.4. Premier Finaltouch held his ground inside for second over Literally Rockin and Mike Peterson for third. Leapnpetesonhisway is owned by Therl Hensley and trained by Rocky Loney. The Freaky Feet Pete colt was bred and raised by Dr. Paul and Cathy Webb. It was his fourth win in his fifth start of his career, and with the absence of Mason Kent, he now moves up into the top position for ISFC points en route to the Governor’s Cup Championships at the Indiana State Fair. His career best time of 1:59.2 remains his quickest taken at Converse earlier this year. Loney swept the freshman pacing colt/gelding divisions as he also guided Midnight Fox to an impressive win in 1:57.4. He got away in second early on behind Show Me Wutchagot and Mike Peterson before they broke stride at the quarter with broken equipment. Midnight Fox inherited the lead and was open lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Dominance continued for Midnight Fox through the second half as he powered home by 17 lengths to win in 1:57.4, a final quarter paced in :29.0. RB’s Choclitis and Ronald Burks finished second over Special Rocker and Anthony Miller. Midnight Fox, a son of Capt Midnight, is owned by D and J Racing Stables of Mississippi. Jonathan Williams trains the gelding, who was bred by Merlie Schwartz. It was his first career win in his fifth career start. The ISFC continues for a second session at the Clinton County Fairgrounds Wednesday, July 15 in Frankfort. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. featuring two-year-old trotters and three-year-old pacers. The next stop for the ISFC is at Jay County Fairgrounds. Racing is slated for Monday, July 20 with a first post time set for 11 a.m. in Portland.
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By Tammy Knox July 12, 2026
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By Tammy Knox July 11, 2026
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By Tammy Knox July 10, 2026
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By Tammy Knox July 9, 2026
Photo by Dean Gillette Two-year-olds stepped on the track for the first round of Indiana Sires Stakes Wednesday, July 8, but the latter part of the card turned out the biggest surprise of the evening as Rick Plano and The Confession scored a win in the $10,000 conditioned claimer, paying $162.20 for the win. The Confession began from post four and got away third as Rockin Mudslinger and Jordan Ross put their race favorite status to good use early on, leading the field through the quarter in :27.2. Tellme U R Mydate and Travis Seekman chose the two hole. The field remained behind the leader to the half in :58.0 before an outer flow began to form. Beyond Dazzling and Kyle Wilfong led the outer flow around the final turn, flushing out Tellme U R Mydate. With that move Plano chose to move The Confession out as well, right on the back of Tellme U R Mydate. In the stretch, The Confession tipped out one more lane and began to come to life, rallying home in :26.1 at 80-1 odds for the win by one length in 1:54.1. Beyond Dazzling and Kyle Wilfong closed in for second over Rockin Mudslinger for third. The Confession was the longest shot of the field. He is a homebred owned by Maryann Plano and out of the mare Sophia Seelster. The four-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding earned his second win of 2026 and his third overall. He has been getting checks all season for the Plano barn. The family of The Confession has a two-year-old colt by Freaky Feet Pete out of the maternal family this season named Majorsparklefeet who has yet to start. A smaller surprise winner on the night was in the second division of Indiana Sires Stakes as Mystical JK and Kyle Wilfong closed in quickly in the stretch to score the win in their $65,000 division in 1:52.1. The JK Endofanera filly paced her final quarter in :26.1 to show major promise as she kicks off her racing career. Owleo’s Pride and Ricky Macomber Jr. finished second over Fantastech and Marcus Miller for third. Mystical JK paid $17.20 for the win. She is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Mary Buddig, Janet Schwartz, and South of the Tracks. Mystical Marker Farms bred and raised the filly, who was purchased as part of the Victory Hill Farm consignment last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale for $40,000. It was the second career start for Mystical JK, dropping her previous best time taken in a qualifier from 1:57.3 to her big mile of 1:52.1 Wednesday. Callie Rocks and Trace Tetrick scored a win in the first division of Indiana Sires Stakes. The Tyler George trained Rockin Image daughter was a winner in 1:53.0 in the gate to wire effort. Ponda Era and Travis Seekman finished second over JK’s Fast and John DeLong for third. Callie Rocks is owned by Nathan Yoder, Gary Graber, and Stephen Stoll. She was bred and raised by David Fry.
By Tammy Knox July 8, 2026
Photo by Dean Gillette Two-year-olds were in action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Tuesday, July 7 with several Indiana Sires Stakes divisions on the card. Along with the stakes horses were several freshmen on the undercard, including first time starter Lady Nessa. Driven by Jordan Ross, Lady Nessa made her first career start a winning one in the $12,000 Indiana sired two-year-old filly trot. Lady Nessa began from post one and came out of the gate with a little speed and a little lead. Horses were three and four-wide heading to the first turn, including Princess Draven and Jay Cross. The field passed by the quarter in :29.1 led by Lady Nessa but as the field moved out of the turn, Princess Draven had driven on to the lead and took over. Princess Draven led the field in single file through the half in 1:01.1 before Lady Nessa was out and moving, circling around Princess Draven. The move to the outside by Lady Nessa also prompted Indy Girl and Brandon Bates to scoot up on the outside around the turn. At the head of the lane, Indy Girl actually got by Lady Nessa by a half length and led for a few strides before Lady Nessa fought back, retaking the lead in mid-stretch. Once she had regained the lead, she took over, trotting home in :28.0 for the win in 2:00.1. Princess Draven finished two and one-half lengths back in second over Surcharge and Matt Krueger, who closed for third. Lady Nessa paid $27.70 for the win. The two-year-old daughter by Pilot Discretion is owned by breeder Paul Miller. Henry Graber Jr. trains the filly, who is the first winner for the Angus Hall mare Mata Mata from two foals. Earlier in the card, another first-time freshman trotting filly scored a win in Indiana Sires Stakes eligible action. Ponda Crystal and Marcus Miller rallied gate to wire for the win in 1:59.0. a final quarter in :27.2. Fine Wine and Jay Cross finished second over Par for the Course and LeWayne Miller. Ponda Crystal was the favorite, paying $3.60 for the win. The Temporal Hanover filly is royally bred and was purchased for $47,000 from the Ponda Acres consignment. She is now owned by Never 2 Late Stable, Stepbystep Racing, and Tony Willinger. Ponda Crystal was making her first career start for the Erv Miller barn. She is a half sister to Ponda Jewel and Ponda Suite, both by Swan for All and both winners. One proved to be a lucky number Tuesday. Four of the first six races were won from post one.
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