by Tammy Knox

Anderson, IN — Master Punch and trainer-driver Don Eash delivered a knockout blow to the field in the $17,000 final of the Jerry Landess Series Thursday, April 9 at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. The 3-year-old lightly raced gelding stopped the timer in 1:55.4 to remain undefeated in three career starts.

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Master Punch and trainer-driver Don Eash scored a 1:55.4 win in the $17,000 final of the Jerry Landess Series.

Master Punch wasted little time getting out of the gate on top of the field as the heavy favorite. With his stablemate and training partner React Ingoodway close behind, Master Punch set the tempo at :27.4 and :59.2 during the first half of the race. Around the final turn, Eash began to encourage the son of Pilgrims Punch and he kept a good hold of the top spot until the stretch.

Down the stretch, React Ingoodway tipped off his back and began to inch closer to Master Punch but halfway through the lane, it was clear he would not overtake him. At the same time, driver Mark O’Mara took advantage of a lane along the inside with Master Regan to move into contention with Master Punch. Master Regan caught Master Punch before the wire, but Master Punch dug back in, getting the victory by a neck. React Ingoodway held gamely for third.

“He (Master Punch) doesn’t really go unless you chase him,” said Eash. “I had to keep after him from the half on. When he saw that horse (Master Regan) come up beside him, he knocked back into gear again. He’s still not sure what he should be doing on the track and is still figuring out what is going on. He’s always looking at what’s going on around him instead of paying attention. I think he will learn a lot if I can get him in the center of the pack sometime in a race. He has the speed; he just needs some racing experience.”

Master Punch now has more than $16,000 in career earnings after being unraced at two. The final time of 1:55.4 is a new lifetime mark for the Indiana-sired gelding, who is owned by Eash Racing Stable of Greenfield, Ind.

“This is nice to get a good start for the year,” said Eash, who has earned 13 wins in the first 13 nights of action to lead the trainer standings. “The past few seasons, we have been cold getting started, so this is a nice change of pace. We really haven’t done anything different this year. The horses get out every day. I just think the horses we have this year are a little better quality and feel they are living up to what we thought they can do.”

Eash earned three consecutive leading trainer titles at Hoosier Park from 2002 through 2004. He remains among the top three trainers in the history of the track for wins.