Nothinbutanallstar, driven by Mark O'Mara, eked out a narrow victory in Pompano Park's featured $13,000 Open Handicap Trot on Wednesday night.
The four-year-old altered son of Allstar Hall completed his task in 1:54.3, a new lifetime mark considering his other similar mark came over Hoosier Park's seven-eighths mile oval.
The gallant mare Pure Barre, with Mickey McNichol in the bike, was just a neck back in second with Dukester, driven by Rick Plano, third, three lengths away. Saint Pattys Doll finished fourth while M C Felix picked up the minor award in the sextet.
As the race unfolded, Pure Barre was sent directly to the fore with Saint Pattys Doll protecting her inside post to get away in the garden spot. The versatile Nothinbutanallstar, starting from the outside post, also showed some early foot and nestled into third around the opening turn.
Positions remained stagnant through the :28 opener and :57.2 half, but O'Mara sent Nothinbutanallstar just a stride prior to the second station and began grinding away at the leader, reaching second around the final turn through three-quarters in 1:26.3.
From there, it was a classic duel all the way to the wire with Pure Barre and Nothinbutanallstar matching strides through an official :28 finale--the latter just edging by in the final few strides.
After the race, O'Mara said, "[Nothinbutanallstar] isn't use to an 'easy' trip like this. There are times when he has had to come from way, way off the pace and there have been other times when he's either been used hard early on or been hung out there. Tonight, he was able to find a nice spot early without any hassle and then he just does what he does best--grind along. He's very solid and can go on forever...very consistent."
Indeed.
Nothinbutanallstar, also trained by O'Mara for owner Lester Raber, now sports a lifetime scorecard of 12-11-7 in 34 starts, good for $191,464.
He has missed but two cheques in his 34 lifetime starts.
As the second choice in the betting at 7-5 (Purse Barre was 6-5), Nothinbutanallstar paid $4.80 to win.
Pompano Park also had a supporting cast of trotting events--three to be exact--with Winemaster Hanover and Increditable staking claim to their respective $10,000 events and Gold Savage lighting up the toteboard in a companion event worth $9,200.
First, Winemaster Hanover, driven by Dave Ingraham, led at every pole in scoring a victory measuring 1-1/2 lengths over Mc Tinys Hope (Ben McNeil) with Thekeptman (Rick Plano) third.
After clocking panels of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24.4, Winemaster Hanover, stopped the clock in 1:54.4, a new lifetime mark.
This five-year-old son of Donato Hanover, trained by Randy Bickmore for owner Kevin Gee, earned his second triumph of the young season and 14th lifetime, sending his career bankroll to $80,256--$10,000 of that in the infancy of this year.
Third choice in the betting, Winemaster Hanover paid $10.60 to win.
Next, Increditable, a six-year-old son of Credit Winner, trained by Norm Dessureault for owner Denis Goyette, was given a sterling drive by Kevin Wallis to score in a lifetime-best 1:54.1.
Using "patience and prudence," Increditable was away alertly before yielding short of the :27.1 opener to Highland Yankee (Wally Hennessey). Then it was R G Rocket (Dave Ingraham) who took control and rambled to the half in a sharp :55.3. As Majestic Won and Aaron Byron began their bid, Wallis had Increditable following that live cover--a move that ultimately sent him to the winner's circle. Majestic Won did finish second while R G Rocket was comfortably third. Highland Yankee and C Js Rascal picked up the minors.
As fifth choice on the board, Increditable paid $13.40 to win.
Finally, Gold Savage, a new arrival by claim for the Polo Stables, used an aggressive--but patient--drive by Dunc Clements to light up the toteboard with a $103.00 win mutuel.
Trained by Mark Friedman, the five-year-old son of Keystone Savage, was aggressive early in taking an early lead before patiently letting, first, Speed Hanover take command at the :27.1 opening panel and, then, allowing a quarter move by the favourite, Keystone Wyatt, that latter taking the field through an opening half in :55.4.
On the backside, the still patient Gold Savage allowed Sweetasmusic to make a first up bid before following that one's cover and, ultimately, edging by late for the upset victory measuring three parts of a length over the late-charging Echos Funky Claude (Ed Hensley). Rush N Supreme, driven by "Sky" Walker, charged from eighth turning for home to finish third as Keystone Wyatt and Sweetasmusic finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Finally, with multiple Wednesday night winners in the Super Hi-5, the unique ticket jackpot going into Saturday night's program is over $105,000. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)