Hoosier Park: Lazarus N debuts in fine fashion, winning Dan Patch
Lazarus N made an impressive North American debut in capturing the 25th edition of the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on Friday night. The 6-year-old by Bettor's Delight captured the $325,000 event in 1:48 4/5 for driver Yannick Gingras.
Rockin Ron and Bit Of A Legend N left alertly along the inside but were quickly joined on the outside as Gingras pushed Lazarus N early to be in contention. Bit Of A Legend N was used through the 26 1/5 quarter before clearing to the front for driver Jordan Stratton. Gingras moved Lazarus N to the front three-eighths of a mile in, and from that point was in total control.
With fractions of 54 2/5 and 1:22 4/5, the import had all the rest he needed in preparation for the long stretch run to the finish, but he was not alone. Brett Miller had Split The House, who won the Breeders Crown Open Pace over the Hoosier Park oval last year, in high gear and was in hot pursuit of the 1-2 choice. Split The House got up to the flank of Lazarus N but would get no further as Gingras shook up Lazarus N, and the champion responded in kind with a 26-second flat final quarter.
Split The House held gamely for second, with McWicked closing sharply from an impossible spot for third. Bit Of A Legend N faded to fourth in the stretch.
Jimmy Takter trains Lazarus N for Taylor Made Stallions.
"I was leaving an looking to get a spot mid pack but when I saw he was going to get an easy lead I took it," said Gingras following the mile. "I think he's a horse you can do anything you want with."
Lazarus N had been known as a closer primarily down under but Gingras didn't think that it was about the horse's preference.
"That's the way they race down there and he could control a race going first over. That's not the way we race here," Gingras said.
For Taylor Made, which is much-better known on the Thoroughbred side, racing and standing stallions like California Chrome, it was all smiles in the winner's circle from president and CEO Duncan Taylor.
"Horse racing is fun. People ought to know that if you come out here you can really enjoy yourself and have a good time," he said. "It's the smart person's bet. If somebody wants to take the time to learn how to bet, you can actually learn it and beat the odds.
"I'll have to give credit to Mr. Takter. He sort of dragged me into it. In Thoroughbreds it takes 90 days to get one ready. Fifty, sixty days I said, I don't know. He said I'm training, you just watch."