Anderson, IN — Bam Bam, driven by Atlee Bender for trainer Erv Miller, continued to impress by winning for the second time in just three career outings, taking the $20,000 final of the Jerry Landess Pacing Series on Friday (April 17) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Leaving from post 2, Bam Bam remained patient out of the gate settling into the third spot. On the other hand, Vel See You Later (Clint Coy) was the most eager to lead the field into the first quarter turn in :29, followed by Don’t Cuss Russ (John DeLong) in the pocket.
Ilikeitlikethat (Brandon Bates) moved from fourth and attacked the lead at the :57.2 halfway mark. Bam Bam followed suit entering the final turn, bouncing out wide and challenging the leader to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Battling down the homestretch, Bam Bam got the best of Ilikeitlikethat. Rejoining the party, Vel See You Later, hoping to make a late charge along the rail, ran out of steam. Don’t Cuss Russ found a mountain of space as the field continued to spread out surging past Ilikeitlikethat. Going out with a bang by 3-1/2 lengths, Bam Bam crossed the wire in a new lifetime best of 1:52.4. Going off stride towards the finish line, Vel See You Later scrambled for second before later being disqualified to third, causing third-place finisher Don’t Cuss Russ to be placed second.
Owned by Anthony Lombardi, Engel Stable of Illinois, and Louis Willinger, the winning Tellitlikeitis-Podges Lady gelding has started a promising 3-year-old season winning his second straight start, increasing his lifetime earnings to $17,500.
Along with the Jerry Landess Final, the $20,000 Mark Fransen Memorial Series Final took center stage in the 11th race of the evening where Another Legend, driven by Kyle Wilfong for trainer Hector Herrera, pulled off a 39-1 upset after a dramatic photo finish.
Off the gate from post 4, Another Legend surveyed from behind in sixth as Steel Cowboy (Atlee Bender) led through the first quarter in :27.1. Continuing to lead to the backstretch in 54:3, Steel Cowboy went to battle with Winnercircleseeker (Trace Tetrick) on the final turn before rebuking the challenge at three-quarters in 1:23.1.
The field began to swarm Steel Cowboy off the stiff fractions, with Rollin Sevens and Another Legend barreling up wide from second- and third-over, respectively. Another Legend struck the wire first in the three-across battle, winning by a neck over Rollin Sevens with Steel Cowboy holding third a half-length back of the winner in 1:53.1.
The 4-year-old Bit Of A Legend N-Day Of Champions gelding is owned by Robert and Dylan McCabe. Another Legend paid $80.40 to win and boosted his lifetime earnings to $23,425.
Returning to racing next week, Harrah’s Hoosier Park has added a monstrous Early Pick-5 (races 1-5) carryover of $25,226 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool. Post time is set for 5:30 p.m. to welcome Wednesday’s 14-race program, which also features $10,000 guarantees on the Late Pick-4 (races 11-14) and Late High-5 (race 14), offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program.