Champion New Zealand pacer Lazarus has blown away some of North America's best horses with a stunning United States debut.
The $3.6million earning standardbred overcame the worst barrier draw to cruise to the lead in the middle stages before winning the US$325,000 Dan Patch unextended at Hoosier Park in Indiana.
It was Lazarus's first start in the United States after being purchased for close to $4million to race there and eventually stand at stud in both hemipsheres.
To do that commercially he was going to need to prove himself at least the equal or even better of the best North American pacers and he took a giant step in that direction with today's win at 1.50pm NZ time.
Working across from the outside of the front line draw for driver Yannick Gingras, Lazarus was able to power to the front after 700m and from there was never going to be headed, pacing a 1:48.8 for the mobile mile to win easily.
