Spotlight on Lazarus as champion attempts to climb off canvas in US

CHAMPION pacer Lazarus returns to the scene of his stunning debut US win at Indiana’s Hoosier Park on Sunday but this time he needs to re-establish his reputation after back-to-back defeats.

Harness racing champion Lazarus needs to reclaim his mantle in his latest challenge in the United States. Picture: Ashlea Brennan

SUDDENLY former Down Under champion pacer Lazarus finds himself at the crossroads in North America.

Many felt he was rapidly on his way to becoming the world’s best pacer after his stunning debut US win in the Group 1 Dan Patch at Indiana’s Hoosier Park on August 11.

But two Canadian defeats since, including last week at Mohawk Woodbine in a ho-hum race, have put the blowtorch on the six-year-old.

So Saturday’s Group 1 Hoosier Park Derby — when he returns to the scene of that superb debut US win — could be the most important race in his career so far.

And this is no easy race as the Group 1 status would suggest.

Lazarus, drawn out in gate six, meets one of North America’s established and proven open-class superstars, McWicked (gate three), for the third time.

He beat McWicked comfortably and on his merits in the Dan Patch, but McWicked easily turned the tables in the Canadian Derby next time. It should be noted trainer Jimmy Tatker revealed Lazarus pulled-up sick after that race.

As impressive as McWicked was beating an ill Lazarus, he then disappointed slightly when only able to dead-heat for fourth as favourite in the Group 1 Jim Ewart Memorial last weekend.

Many wondered after Lazarus’s defeat in Canada last weekend whether he would back-up this week, but both Takter and driver Yannick Gingras were adamant he should.

“That first race in Canada, Jimmy (Takter) said he came out of sick and Yannick (Gingras) said he knew at the half-mile (halfway) he wasn’t himself,” managing owner Duncan Taylor told ustrotting.com.

Lazarus with trainer-driver Mark Purdon before heading overseas.

“In the second race, Yannick was much happier with him, although he didn’t win. He said he felt much better and there was a large improvement from the first race.

“Jimmy felt the same way and said we should send him back out to Hoosier Park. As with anything, all we can do is see what happens, but Jimmy and Yannick both think he is ready for this race.”

The race is scheduled for 11.50am (AEST) and be shown live on Sky Racing.

TAB has Lazarus a $2 favourite to bounce-back with a win, while McWicked is clear second elect at $2.40.

Pending their performances on Saturday, Lazarus and McWicked are likely to clash again at the famed Red Mile track in Lexington, Kentucky on October 6 and the Breeders Crown on October 27 at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.