Racing: Lazarus is back after a couple of reversals

A fired-up Lazarus bounced back from two defeats to win. Photo / Dean Gillette

A fired-up Lazarus bounced back from two defeats to win the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby in Anderson, Indiana yesterday.

The champion New Zealand-bred held off a late bid from his arch-nemesis McWicked to win the US$177,000 mile feature in 1:48.4.

Lazarus charged out of the gate for driver Yannick Gingras and took the lead racing in to the first turn.

Gingras steadied the speed going down the back straight and Lazarus clocked his second 400m in 29.0sec, after an opening 400m of 26.0sec.

Though Gingras was able to slow the race-speed, Lazarus did not look too keen on the idea.

The Bettor's Delight stallion looked fired up and keen to run as he passed the 1200m in 1:23.0.

Gingras was still swinging on the star Kiwi export as the field approached the turn.

McWicked had enjoyed a perfect run in the one-one while Lazarus controlled the lead and he was angled out for his run in the straight by driver David Miller.

But Miller appeared to leave his run too late as McWicked ran out of time to catch the hard-fighting Lazarus when the winning post came up.

Lazarus registered a sizzling 25.4sec last 400m in what was his second win from four starts in North America.