New Talent Scorches Hoosier In Invite
New Talent and Todd Warren found the winner’s circle for the second consecutive week at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, this time in the featured event of the evening a $21,000 Invitational Pace, on Friday, April 20. Slightly dismissed at the betting windows, New Talent turned in a gritty performance to hold off his rivals late in the lane to score in 1:50. The 1:50 clocking was a seasonal best mark for New Talent and also the fastest mile of the 2018 season through the first 13 nights of racing at Hoosier Park.
Leaving from post five in a talented field of seven, New Talent left alertly to grab a pocket seat behind the heavy betting favourite, Night Pro driven by Brandon Bates. Night Pro reached the first quarter in :26 but Peter Wrenn wanted a turn on the front and had Mojoto Hanover out and firing to grab the lead at the second station in a brisk :53.3.
Warren gave New Talent the green light approaching the final turn and he began his first-over journey to the front. As the field reached the three-quarter clocking in 1:21.1, New Talent was able to wear down Mojoto Hanover but Night Pro wasn’t going away. Utilizing a :28.1 final quarter, New Talent dug in gamely to prevail in a tight photo over Night Pro while the Dover Downs invader Never Say Never, driven by Trace Tetrick, also rallied late in the lane to get up for third place honours.
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Trained by Jeff Cullipher, who also co-owns with Thomas Pollack, New Talent recorded his second win from just two starts this season. The five-year-old gelded son of Mach Three - You See LA has now won 16 of 52 lifetime outings while bankrolling $257,846. It was a good night at the office for the Warren-Cullipher combination as New Talent’s victory was one of three wins on the program for the duo. Incredible Shark was also victorious in a conditioned pace earlier in the evening and Castle Flight captured the last race of the night.
Live harness racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, April 21 with a 12-race card with an adjusted post time of 4:30 p.m. Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 10.
(Hoosier)