Action Jackson and driver Sam Widger made it look like an easy task in the second leg of the $12,500 Jerry Landess Series at Hoosier Park on Wednesday
. After finishing second in the first round, the four-year-old son of Kentucky Spur brought home his first win of the year in only his second start for Greg Kain’s Green Acres of Beecher, Illinois.
Bred by Kain, who is a graduate of Purdue University, Action Jackson was unraced at two. Known as “Roman” around the Kain barn for his “roman nose,” the gelding was slow to come to fruition last year. However, when he made it to the track, he showed signs of having speed with his only win at Indiana Downs recorded in 1:56.3.
Widger, who had five wins on the Tuesday, April 12 racing program, was able to sit quietly in fourth with Action Jackson at the start. Madeforflight and Todd Jones led the way through early fractions of :28.4 and 1:00.1. At the halfway point, Widger was forced to the outside and began to improve his position. Leading the outer flow to the three-quarter pole, Action Jackson took control of the race and moved away from the field, getting an advantage of four and three-quarter lengths at the finish in a time of 1:57.4. Matts Jack and Mike Peterson fought hard on the inside for second followed by E R Prince Charmin and Don Eash for third.
“He (Action Jackson) is really a funny horse to drive,” said Widger. “He’s not real easy. He has a mind of his own but he has a lot of potential. He likes other horses in front of him starting out and then he’ll make his move. He’s very capable.”
Widger also guided another Landess Series winner during the night as Electric Shooter took home top honours in an earlier division. The three-year-old Kilowatt gelding was a five-plus length winner in a time of 1:55.3 for trainer Mervin Schmucker and Double EE Meadows of Grabill, Indiana. The victory was the first for Electric Shooter in 16 career starts.
Straight Value and Peter Wrenn picked up the first division of the Landess Series Wednesday evening. The duo won by a margin of two and three-quarter lengths in a time of 1:55.4 to advance into next week’s final.
Action Jackson, Electric Shooter, and Straight Value will return for the $25,000 final of the Landess series Wednesday, April 20. The top 10 money earners from the series will make up the final field.
(Hoosier Park)