Harrah's Hoosier Park: Lexus Kody, Periculum share Caesars Trotting Classic title

The photo finish camera couldn't separate Lexus Kody and Periculum in Friday night's $200,000 Caesars Trotting Classic for free-for-allers at Harrah's Hoosier Park. The final time of the dead-heat was 1:51 1/5.

After a lengthy delay due to equipment issues with Chapercraz, who would eventually be scratched, the race went off and Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) cut the quarter in a swift 26 seconds flat before he yielded to Charlie Hill Memorial champion Hillexotic (Austin Hanners). Ponda Jet would re-move to the point before the quick 53 3/5 half as Lexus Kody (Yannick Gingras) began a first-over move out of fourth and was tracked by Periculum (Scott Zeron).

Ponda Jet clung to the lead at three-quarters in 1:22 2/5, but Lexus Kody wore him down and went by in the lane. Lexus Kody got separation on the others after he took command, but Periculum had enough time with the lengthy Harrah's Hoosier Park stretch to find his best stride and hit the wire together with Lexus Kody. French Wine (Jason Bartlett) closed well out of seventh to get up from third, followed by Flagman (Rick Plano) and Helpfirstedition (David Miller).

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"He's just so professional to drive. Horses like that create their own luck," Zeron said post-race. "Obviously with Lexus Kody leaving on the outside, we were able to hold up going to the eighth pole and let him in front of us. I was happy where I was, obviously the hot tempo made it where Yannick had an easy choice to not power move. It was pretty salty to the half. I knew I'd have that cover. It was really good cover, almost too good.

"We've had those races a few times now - valiant effort obviously by Lexus Kody and Periculum to keep digging. That's a long stretch."

Periculum, a 6-year-old Muscle Hill stallion bred by Order By Stable, was sent out by Marcus Melander for owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd. He won for the 15th time in his career and continued to close in on the $2 million mark in lifetime earnings.

"Next will be down in Lexington in two weeks," reported assistant trainer Mattias Melander. "We had some bad luck (in the International Trot when locked-in on the inside), but it is what it is."

Ron Burke trains Lexus Kody, a 7-year-old gelded son of Archangel bred by Norm Dunstan, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Phil Collura. He has a summary of 34-20-11 from 86 outings and went over $1.5 million in career earnings. Both horses paid $2.10 to win.