Laser Speed – lighting up the Meadowlands

Four-year-old Lazarus gelding, Laser Speed, made a huge impression in his fresh up return to the Meadowlands last weekend.

Laser Speed was a dominant winner, taking out his sixth career victory from just 27 starts.

Driven by his regular pilot, Mark Herschberger, Laser Speed found the lead early, before finding himself three back on the fence.

Not content to take any chances, Herschberger launched back into the lead and dictated terms.

From there on in the result was merely a formality, with Laser Speed coasting away from his rivals to win by ten lengths at the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj8HRtmisqA

What was even more impressive than the dominant manner in which he won, was the time – a new lifetime best mark of 1.49.4 – in what are still cold Spring conditions in New Jersey.

Trainer Chris Height was elated with the effort.

“That was a great effort in his first race back, he’ll improve on that for sure,” Chris told Wai Eyre Farm.

“I’ve got my fingers crossed for his race this weekend, I gave him a bit of an easy week but he seems a lot fitter and should improve.”

Laser Speed has been in Chris’s team since September of last year and has proven to be a great purchase for his owner.

“He’s a compact horse and great to be around, he’s been a great addition to the barn.”

“He’s great in the cart, on the lead, just a sweetheart to have.”

When Laser Speed first started racing for Chris it did take a few starts for his driver Mark Herschberger to learn about his style.

“In the first couple of starts I said to Mark that he’s a good horse, and initially Mark was just giving him a good trip and not doing any work. But then he realised this thing can do the work and really fly.”

“And you look at him and you wouldn’t think he could go 1.49, but he’s tough, he’s compact, he just gets out there and gets it done. I was just blown away by that mile.”

“He won his start before that back in December in 1.50, and that was a cold winter night. He ran away from them that night too, and when he qualified recently he was pretty impressive too.”

“I gave him a bit of a break after December, as I thought he would come back as a nice four-year-old. So I text Mark (Herschberger) a couple of weeks ago to see if he was on any other horse, and he said no he was waiting for this horse to come back.”

Chris plans on taking things week by week for Laser Speed and his racing plan, aiming eventually for the good open three and four-year-old races in the coming season.

“I really like him, he’s just all business.”

Lazarus continues to leave winners in the United States, recording wins this week with Lazin On The Beach, Whiskey Breath, Lazarus Star, Devine Cosmo and Gaza Strip.

His first crop in the US have been standout performers and carry on winning, his average earnings per starter in that crop a phenomenal $119,000 from 79 starters.

Lazarus has 295 horses three-year-olds and over in North America and of those foals old enough to race have earnings of $15,886,126 to date.

In New Zealand this week Lazarus has the chance to pick up Group race success at Alexandra Park, with The Lazarus Effect, Signman and Time For Change all entered in feature races on Friday night.