Bam Bam turns in knockout performance in Landess Final

Photo by Dean Gillette

Bam Bam and Atlee Bender turned in a knockout performance Friday, April 17 in the $20,000 final of the Jerry Landess Series. The three-year-old earned a new lifetime mark in the effort in a time of 1:52.4.

Bam Bam came into the race with one win and one second in his young career. He began from post two and used a little early speed to slide into the three hole as Vel See you later and Clint Coy were the first leaders at the quarter in :29.0. They were overtaken by Ilikeitlikethat and Brandon Bates at the half in :57.2. Heading into the final turn, Bam Bam was out and moving forward and passing up rivals with every stride.

In the stretch, Bam Bam took over and took off. He rallied home in :27.1 for the win by three and one-half lengths for a knockout punch to his opponents. Vel See You Later crossed the wire next, but made a break late in the lane and was placed back to third, moving Don’t Cuss Russ and John DeLong up to second.

Bam Bam was the favorite of the field, paying $2.60 for the win. The Tellitlikeitis three-year-old is owned by Anthony Lombardi, Engel Stable of IL and Tony Willinger. Erv Miller trains the gelding, who was unraced at two. Bam Bam was a $46,000 yearling purchase from the Walker Standardbred Sale in Illinois. His dam, Podges Lady, took a mark of 1:51.4 and made more than $400,000 and has become a very productive brood mare. She is the dam of six winners in seven foals, including Sams Triple Crown with a mark of 1:49.1 and General Ward, who has more than $300,000 on his card. Of the six winners, four have six figures on their card. The family has a two-year-old this year, an Illinois bred by Somestarsomewhere named Fox Valley Kravitz and a yearling this year, also by Somestarsomewhere named Fox Valley Equinox.

In the race before the Landess final, Crooked Smile and Jordan Ross scored a win in 1:49.2 in the upper conditioned pace. After sitting in second behind M-M’s Bud and John DeLong, they found room to maneuver in the lane and rallied home to a length win over Sanday A and Trae Tetrick. Gorgeous Big Guy and Kyle Wilfong finished third.

Crooked Smile was a longshot, paying $26.40 for the victory. The nine-year-old Panther Hanover gelding is owned by Wilson Racing Stable and Turn For Home Racing. Tim Wilson Jr. trains the veteran pacer, who earned his second win in his fourth start this year. Overall, he has 40 wins and more than $625,000 in earnings. His career best time of 1:48.4 was taken last year as an eight-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. He has now won at least once in a sub 1:50 time the past six years of his career.

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Photo of Lyin' Eyes and Joey Putnam by Dean Gillette Lyin’ Eyes and Joey Putnam were the only ones to dip below the 1:50 time barrier Saturday, August 29 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The duo scored the win in the $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, earning a new lifetime mark in the process. Lyin’ Eyes began from post one and used that to her advantage when the gate opened for the race. She had just enough early speed to slide in behind Yankee B Something and Geremy Bobbitt, who passed by the quarter in :26.2. Lyin’ Eyes out and moving to the front, settling in before the half in :54.4. This spurred an outer flow to form led by Adashious Hanover and Trace Tetrick. At the head of the lane, Lyin’ Eyes was battling with Adashious Hanover on the outside with Yankee B Something had room to move up the inside. But Lyin’ Eyes kept on task, rallying all the way to the wire for the win in 1:49.4, a final quarter paced in :26.4. Reason to Shine A and LeWayne Miller closed in for second over Naked on a Hill and Brandon Bates for third. Lyin’ Eyes paid $9.40 for the win. The five-year-old daughter of Odds on Equuleus is owned by JP Racing, Joey Putnam, and Crazy Parrot Farm. Joe Putnam handles the training of the mare who originated from Silver Linden Farms. Lyin’ Eyes earned her second win of 2026 and her 11 th overall. She increased her career bankroll to more than $526,000 with the win. She has spent her entire career with the Putnam barn, a $21,000 purchase from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Her second dam is a big producer, including Martini Hanover (1:49.0, $487,000). Lyin’ Eyes dam, Miswave Hanover, is a 100 percent producer with three winners from three foals of racing age, including three-year-old Change of Order (1:53.0, $39,000) and Table for Four (1:54.0, $23,000). The night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park was filled with all types of activities, including the second annual Lowrider 500 featuring Weiner Dog racing. Fans surrounded the front paddock as preliminary rounds were held to determine the final field for the main event on the racetrack. Skinny Lenny was the overall winner followed by Archie and Ellie. The Saturday card also included not one but two dead-heats on the night. Wild Rosa (Brandon Bates) and Prtynproud Hanover (Trace Tetrick) hit the wire together in the $12,000 conditioned pace in 1:50.3. A few races later, Woodmere Harriet (Todd Warren) and Schnapps (Anthony Miller) also could not be separated at the wire for the dead heat win in 1:54.0 in the conditioned pace.

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