Up All Night wins Hoosier's Landess final

Up All Night made his second consecutive trip to Hoosier Park's winner circle as he scored in the $15,000 Jerry Landess final, a late closing event open to three and four-year-old Indiana sired colts and geldings that are non-winners of $7,500 lifetime, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday.

 

After winning the second leg of the series last time out, the 4-year-old horse notched his second consecutive victory of the season in a lifetime best effort of 1:53.4.

 

With Ricky Macomber Jr. at the lines for the first time, Up All Night left from post five as part of the Jim Arledge Jr.-trained entry and was unhurried off the gate to settle along the rail in seventh. Likeavirgin and Trace Tetrick left for position as soon as the gate folded and reached the front through a snappy :26.1 opening quarter.

 

Alwaysagoodthing and driver Dave Magee, the second-half of the Arledge entry, benefitted from a pocket trip while Rattle On Howard and Tyler Smith followed intently in third.

 

Likeavirgin was able to slow the tempo and dictate a half mile time of :55.1 while the field remained slightly gapped out down the backside. Tyler Smith gave Rattle On Howard the green light and they were the first to take aim at the leaders with Peter Wrenn and Always A Diamond in tow. While the outer flow pressed on, Up All Night used a ground saving trip and progressed nicely along the rail.

 

Likeavirgin continued to call the shots around the three-quarter clocking in 1:24.2 as the rest of the field began to close in. Turning for home, Rattle On Howard reached the leader's wheel but the biggest threat was still behind him.

 

Tipping around tiring cover late in the lane, Up All Night used a :28.1 final panel to win by three-parts of a length. Always A Diamond held on nicely for the second place finish while Ucanthandledatruth and Sam Widger rallied late for third. Slightly dismissed at the windows at 7-1, Up All Night returned $16 to his backers for the victory.

 

Scoring his second win from 16 lifetime outings, the 4-year-old son of Mantacular-Kickin Lass increased his lifetime earnings to $17,265 for owner, breeder Laura Baker.

 

"I was a little worried when they opened up at odds of 41-1,” winning owner Laura Baker noted with a laugh in the winner's circle. "They both have been nice horses for us and Ricky (Macomber Jr.) did a great job driving him tonight.”

 

It was a driving double for Macomber on the evening as he later went on to score with Cowgirl Hall in the $17,500 fillies and mares featured trot in 1:55.1. (Hoosier Park)