If someone thought the favorite would win Race 11 Monday, April 24 at Miami Valley, then they don’t know Jack…Jack Wacker that is. The Indiana sired gelding rallied late for driver Brandon Bates to capture the win in the higher priced conditioned claiming event.
Jack Wacker and Brandon Bates timed the wire just right to score the Monday, April 24 win at Miami Valley. Photo by Conrad Photography
Starting from post six, Jack Wacker didn’t even mess with the early speed horses out of the gate and settled in fifth as Greater Than Aces and Tyler Smith got the first call in :27.2 before Awesome Times Two and Chris Page got the second call in :55.3. Heading to the three-quarters, Jack Wacker picked up cover in the middle of the outer flow and let those horses carry him to the stretch, where he went to work.
Jack Wacker began picking off horses one by one until he reached the last one, Truthfinder and Trace Tetrick. He dug in gamely and got the win by a neck over the race favorite. Medowland Terror and Brett Miller also closed in to finish third. The time of the mile was 1:54.0.
Jack Wacker paid $40.oo for the win and the second to highest priced horse in the field. The five-year-old son of JK Endofanera is owned and trained by Greg Henderson of Ohio. Leon Slabach bred the gelding.
Jack Wacker earned his second win of 2023 for Henderson, who has had him for the past year. Overall, he has five wins in 86 starts and more than $81,000 on his card have breaking his maiden as a four-year-old. His career best time was his win at Miami Valley Monday.
Jack Wacker is from The Panderosa mare Lindwood Rosa. He is a half brother to Always-a-laser, who is currently racing as well as Lupa, another half brother that is currently racing. The family has a two-year-old named Lostinthewoods, a colt by Lost in Time, that should be racing soon.
Another Indiana sired gelding was a winner Monday at Miami Valley as Odds on Alpha Male and Jeremy Smith scored a win in the other division of upper conditioned claimers. After relinquishing the lead to World for Two and Brett Miller at the quarter in :26.2, Odds On Alpha Male was back out to take over the lead at the half and never looked back, fending off late challengers for the win by a half length in 1:53.1. Aint Easy Being Me and Kayne Kauffman rolled up for second over VH Levi and Aaron Merriman for third.
Odds On Alpha Male is owned by Ken Rucker and Jack Freeman. Rucker trains the Odds on Equuleus four-year-old, who was bred by Nathan Miller. He has been with Rucker and Freeman since last September and was making his third start of 2023 in the win. He is a half brother to JN Wild Flight, who is still racing with a mark of 1:54.1 and he has a full brother named JN Dominator that should be on the track soon.