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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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