Night Pro made his third consecutive trip to Hoosier Park’s winner's circle as he completed the Jerry Landess Series sweep winning the $15,000 final of the late-closing event open to three and four-year-old Indiana sired colts and geldings that are non-winners of $7,500 lifetime on Wednesday, April 17.
The three-year-old colt notched his fourth consecutive victory in a lifetime-best effort of 1:53.1 as he pushed his career earnings over $15,000.
Barley Pop and Trace Tetrick left the gate alertly from post three to control the early fractions through a first quarter clocking in :28. Using much the same strategy as weeks past, Night Pro and Pete Wrenn were content to sit along the rail in third before making their move to the front down the backside.
Bullwinkle and Kayne Kauffman benefitted from a pocket trip as the field remained in a single-file line through the half-mile, timed in :56.4.
Barley Pop continued to lead the field of 10 as Wrenn gave Night Pro the green light approaching the final turn. Shooters Dream and Roger Cullipher were well placed second over as they reached the three-quarter mark in 1:25.3.
Wrenn urged Night Pro to the front and the son of Pro Bono Best responded with a :27.3 final panel to win going away by nine lengths. Shooters Dream was able to take advantage of a perfect trip to finish second while Endeavors King and Tony Hall rallied from off the pace to finish third. Heavily backed at the windows, Night Pro returned $2.80 for the win.
“I didn’t want to rush him tonight,” Wrenn noted. “I just wanted to float out of there and stay out of trouble. He relaxed down the backside and was able to get a breather before I ever had to ask him to do anything. He’s an extremely smart colt and looks like he has a future ahead of him.”
Unraced at two, Night Pro is trained and owned by Dale Decker of Temperance, Michigan. A $14,000 yearling purchase, the black colt is the first foal from the multiple stakes-winning mare, Midnight Jewel.
“He’s an extremely smart colt,” Decker said. “People ask me why I’m not driving him and I tell them it’s because Pete has about 8,000 more wins than me. He is the one that should be driving a colt like him.”
(Hoosier Park)