Anderson, IN — Leave It To Leo, driven by Jordan Ross for trainer Dee Smith, capped a wild finish with a 25-1 upset at the wire to win the $22,000 Open Pace on Friday (Sept. 4) at Hoosier Park.
When the wings folded, Leave It To Leo dropped to the back of the field from post 6, while M-M-s Bud (John De Long) and Golden Bay N (Trace Tetrick) gunned for the early lead. Golden Bay N held the advantage at the first turn in :25.4 with M-M-s Bud and Shamwow (Brandon Bates) rounding out the current podium. Captain Arturovico (Marcus Miller) joined the action along the outside, cruising up to the lead at the halfway point in :53.3.
The eight-horse field moved side-by-side as M-M-s Bud mounted a charge from third with Little Rocket Man (Kyle Wilfong) in tow. Leave It To Leo remained along the rail in seventh for Ross. Captain Arturovico held onto the lead by a thread at the three-quarters in 1:21.3.
M-M-s Bud accelerated on the turn to brush past the leader. Leave It To Leo awakened from the back of the field, hitting the jets along the rail. Looking M-M-s Bud in the eye, Golden Bay N blazed past the pacer. Meanwhile, Leave It To Leo used a :26.2 final quarter to rocket to the wire in 1:49.1, winning by a neck. Golden Bay N held for second, while Little Rocket Man rounded out the trifecta.
Leave It To Leo paid $52.60 to win for his ninth seasonal score, boosting his lifetime earnings to $270,961. The six-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding is owned by Perry Smith.
Smith recorded three training wins on Friday night’s 14-race card. Her other trips to the winner’s circle came with Codys Watching (Race 2) and Six Sticks Of Gum (Race 6).
Live racing returns Saturday night (Sept. 5) with a 13-race card as On To Norway headlines the $22,000 Open Trot in Race 9. The $22,000 Fillies/Mares Open Pace kicks off in Race 6 with Can’ttouchthese back in action. The Saturday night card features the $7,500 guaranteed Late Pick 4 and the $7,500 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program.