Paco Labrook was a decisive winner in the featured event, a $24,000 Invitational Pace, at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday.
With a final time of 1:50, Paco Labrook may be aimed towards Hoosier Park’s signature event, the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational, slated for May 25 at Hoosier Park.
Guided by driver/trainer Brad Hanners, Paco Labrook was unhurried out of the gate from post nine as Dreamlands Art and Brett Miller reached the top first through a brisk opening panel in :25.4. Sunday Poker and Mike Micallef followed suit and dropped in along the rail in second.
Paco Labrook continued his quest for the front and secured the lead through a half-mile time in :54.3. Sunday Poker was the first to move from along the rail as the field rounded the final turn in 1:22.4 with Jammin Joshua and Sam Widger well placed second over. The field began to tighten as they rounded the turn for home, and it looked to be a wide open race to the finish.
Just as the rest of the field closed in, Paco Labrook found another gear and charged home in :27.1 to find the wire first. The five-year-old gelding looked to be under wraps as he crossed the finish line two lengths in front of his closest competitor. Mykindachip and Jason Dillander also found a late closing kick of :26.4 to finish a game second while Dreamlands Art held on for the third place finish. As the public's choice, Paco Labrook returned $9 for the victory.
Owned by James Baucher of Celina, Ohio, Paco Labrook is now five for 14 in 2013. The gelded son of Panspacificflight pushed his career earnings over $450,000 mark with the victory. He has now won both of his last outings in the Invitational Pace at Hoosier Park.
Paco Labrook is one of the 10 possible entrants in the 20th installment of Hoosier Park’s $200,000 Dan Patch. Paco Labrook will join a stellar cast for the 2013 installment of the race. The evening will also include several divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes, pushing purse money well over the $600,000 mark for the evening. Shark Gesture, winner of the 2010 Dan Patch, holds the track record at 1:48.1.
(Hoosier Park)