In an epic finish, Lyons Johnny, driven by Ed Hensley, eked out a "nostril" decision over Prairie Jaguar, handled by Peter Wrenn, in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night.
Dont Tell Rusty and Kevin Wallis teamed to be third, three lengths away, while Fancyfreeshark finished fourth. Cadillac Phil picked up the nickel in the octet.
Stopping the teletimer in 1:49.1, a new lifetime mark, the six-year-old son of Mach Three, beginning officially from post seven (after the scratch of Northern Companion), was away alertly following Prairie Jaguar (post five) as the latter blazed through an opening panel in :26. Lyons Johnny's nose never left the helmet of Wrenn through a lively half in :54.2 and sizzling three quarters in 1:21.3.
Just a stride or two after that, Lyons Johnny left his pocket and pulled along side Prairie Jaguar turning for home, From there, it was tooth and nail all the way home with neither giving an inch through a :27.3 finale.
When the judges looked long and hard at the photo, it showed Lyons Johnny in from by the slimmest of margins.
"Now THAT was some finish,” said driver Ed Hensley. “These two were going all that they could go. It wasn't a case of one of these horses relenting...it seemed that both had the will to win this. This time, it was me...This time, I was the lucky one, but you can't take anything away from Prairie Jaguar, he was as awesome as my horse, especially cutting the whole way."
Trained by Peter Pellegrino for the Baron Racing Stable, Lyons Johnny won for the sixth time this year in 35 starts and pushed his seasonal bankroll to $68,040 with this, his first sub-1:50 performance. He's now earned $227,899 lifetime.
A well respected 9-5 on the tote-board with stablemate Fancyfreeshark, Lyons Johnny paid $5.80 to win.
Earlier in the evening, The Florida Amateur Drivers Club made another sizable donation to Go For The Greens, an organization which assists breast cancer survivors with medical bill assistance. Diane Sears and Cindy Chace represented Go For The Greens while members of the Florida Amateur Drivers Club joined them in the winner's circle for the check presentation. Realizing that Breast Cancer Awareness Month had passed, the consensus of the Drivers Club was "it is never too late to help a cause as worthy as this!"
(Pompano Park)