Land of Freedom and Ricky Macomber Jr. rallied past rivals late in the stretch to score the win in the $16,000 Open 3 Trot Saturday, Aug. 26 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The gelding was a winner as one of the longshots of the nine-horse field that included some star power.
Land of Freedom and Ricky Macomber Jr. trotted past rivals for the upset win in the Open 3 Sat. Aug. 26 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Land of Freedom began his race from post three and got away in mid pack as Cassius Lane and Michael Oosting set the first fraction of :26.3 before race favorite Ponda Adventure moved out and around to claim the top spot heading to the half in :55.1. This prompted Toy’s For You and Rick Plano to also make a move, followed by Land of Freedom, who was second over heading to the three-quarters in 1:24.1.
In the stretch, Land of Freedom tipped to the outside and went to work, picking off horses one by one until he reached the wire first in 1:52.3, a final quarter in :27.3. Toy’s For You finished second over Ponda Adventure for third.
Land of Freedom paid $54.20 for the win. The four-year-old son of Dover Dan is owned by Robert Reeser and John Johnannsen. Lavon Slabach bred the gelding, who is also trained by Reeser.
Land of Freedom earned his sixth win of 2023 and his 11th overall. His career best time of 1:52.2 was taken earlier this summer at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Overall, he has more than $173,000 on his card.
Land of Freedom is part of the first crop by Dover Dan. He sold at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $8,000 and was purchased by Reeser and Johnannsen. He is the first foal from the Muscles Yankee mare Sweetlandofliberty, who took a mark of 1:59.3 and made $34,000 during her career. She has a yearling filly named Sweet Show by sire Show Ticket, who has limited foals in Indiana.
A few races later, Brookview Bolt and Trace Tetrick3 turned in a gate to wire effort to win the $22,000 Open Trot in a time of 1:53.0. Big Christian and Atlee Bender followed along throughout and tried to move up late, finishing three-quarters of a length back in second. Triathlon AS and Brandon Bates finished third.
Brookview Bolt paid $4.60 for the win as the favorite. The five-year-old Swan for All is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi. Brookview Farms bred the gelding trained by Ron Burke. The standout trotter earned his 22nd career win. He now has in excess of $570,000 in earnings and his career best time of 1:52.0 was taken earlier this year.