After an equipment malfunction last week, Night Pro and Sam Widger rebounded gamely to capture the featured event of the evening, a $21,000 Invitational Pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, April 21.
Sent off as the heavy betting favourite, Night Pro turned in a gritty performance to hold off his rivals late in the lane to score in 1:49.3, just a few ticks off his career best. It was a seasonal best mark and also equalled the fastest mile of the 2017 season through the first 13 nights of racing at Hoosier Park.
Leaving from post nine in a talented field of 10, Widger sent Night Pro away from the gate firing but a host of others also left alertly. Mykindachip and Ricky Macomber Jr. left aggressively from post eight to get the first call but Night Pro, unable to find a spot along the rail, pressed on to the lead through an opening quarter in a snappy :25.4. Somestarsomewhere and Dale Hiteman were also unable to find a spot along the rail and continued to apply pressure to the outside of the leader as the torrid pace continued through the second quarter in :53.3.
Night Pro was able to put away Somestarsomewhere as they hit the three-quarter mark in 1:22.2, but he would still have his work cut out for him as the rest of the field loomed large in the background. Mykindachip and Macomber Jr. tipped from the pocket and took aim at the leader, but Night Pro was too strong. Utilizing a :27.1 final quarter, Night Pro held on gamely to get the win by a head over Mykindachip. Evergreen Elite and Trace Tetrick rallied late in the lane to round out the trifecta.
As the heavy betting favourite, Night Pro returned $2.60 to his backers at the betting windows.
Trained and owned by Dale Decker, Night Pro recorded his fourth win from six seasonal outings. The seven-year-old son of Pro Bono Best-Midnight Jewel has now won 45 of 80 lifetime victories while bankrolling $723,182.
The win was also one of two on the program for Widger.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will continue on Saturday, April 22 with a 12-race card. Post time is 6:30 p.m..
(With files from Hoosier Park)