Drink Up Drink Up doubled up in the $30,137 Open Trot at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, repeating with a front-end score from the far outside post with Brandon Bates in the bike for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. on Friday, March 13.

Sent off as the 3-1 third choice from post eight, Bates hustled Drink Up Drink Up into the fold racing three-deep on the first turn in second with Easter Jack (Kyle Husted) tripping the timer at the quarter from between horses in :27. Easter Jack was able to cross over to the cones in front of Famous Father (Luke Plano) before releasing Drink Up Drink Up to the engine on the backstretch, leading the field to the halfway point in :56.3. Bates was able to grab a breather for Drink Up Drink Up on the final turn, racing into the wind towards the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1.

Cutting the quarter sharply, Drink Up Drink Up was able to build a two-length advantage midway through the lane with Easter Jack in pursuit and race favourite Dover In Motion (Ricky Macomber Jr.) beginning to rally along the cones. The two chasers began to close in on the leader in deep stretch but Drink Up Drink Up valiantly dug in to hold Easter Jack at bay by a half-length in 1:55.4. Dover In Motion closed for the third spot, a length back in third between the two.

Drink Up Drink Up has won two of his four starts on the year and 21 times for his career spanning 83 races. The six-year-old gelded son of Trixton-Homefortheholidays is owned by Adam Friedland of Brooklyn, New York and Brian Carsey of Cambridge City, Indiana. His career earnings surpassed the $500,000 mark.

Live harness racing will return to Hoosier Park on Thursday, March 19 with a first post of 5:30 p.m. The track's Thursday and Friday two-day schedule continues for the remainder of March before the addition of Wednesdays in April.

(With files from Hoosier Park)