Lester Raber's Nothinbutanallstar, deftly driven by trainer Mark O'Mara, justified the public's 3-5 confidence on the tote by scoring a repeat victory in Pompano Park's $12,000 Open Trot on Wednesday night (April 1) in 1:54.
Holy Halibut, driven by Matt Romano, finished second while Flyhawk El Durado, with Steve Condren in the bike, was third. Winemaster Hanover finished fourth after slicing through panels of :27, :56.2 and 1:24 and Its Payday Friday picked up the final award in the quintet.
Nothinbutanallstar, a four-year-old altered son of Allstar Hall, was unhurried early and almost nine lengths back after the hot opener. He took up the chase on the backside following live cover, tilted out wide turning for home and, first, wore down the leader and, then, held off the late surge of Hold Halibut to score by three parts of a length. Flyhawk El Durado also showed stout late trot in the mile for the aforementioned show spot, just a length away.
After the event, the always humble O'Mara summed up the win by saying, "He gave his usual strong performance. All I did was drive him to give him an opportunity to win!"
Nothinbutanallstar is now five for seven this year with $35,930 on his card. He's 16 for 40 lifetime, good for $219,214. He's missed but two cheques during his career.
He paid $3.20 to win.
Trainer/driver O'Mara doubled up two events later by squeaking by in the final stride to score a photo finish victory with DC Flashback in 1:57.2.
This five-year-old son of Pinetucky, owned by George Mc Chrystal along with Mark Kremen, also rallied from off the pace, nailing the win over On The Tab (Bruce Ranger) and Go Jesse Go (Mickey McNichol) in a three-horse photo -- the winning margin a nose. Ex King finished fourth after cutting most of the fractions while Escrow Blue Chip, prominent throughout the mile, finished fifth.
DC Flashback won for only the second time this semester -- nine wins lifetime -- to push his career bankroll to $72,530.
As third choice in the field of nine, DC Flashback paid $12.40 to his faithful.
The $10,000 Open "2" Trot went to R G Rocket, trained by Mario Dessureault for the Jamie Marra Racing LLC, in a lifetime-best 1:54.3.
Dave Ingraham was in the sulky for the win measuring two and a quarter lengths over My Revenuer (Tom Sells), with the Florida-bred Lugar (Bruce Ranger) third. Tug River Dylan finished fourth while Mc Tinys Hope picked up the "nickel" after assuming command from Lugar at the opener in :27.3 and then getting over to the half in :57.
On the backside, R G Rocket began his rally from fourth and forged to the front past three-quarters in 1:25.2 and coasted to the wire in :29.1 for the new lifetime mark.
R G Rocket, a seven-year-old son of Cincinnati Kid, earned his second success of the year -- 22nd lifetime -- to push his 2015 bounty to $22,745. He's banked $208,854 lifetime.
As the even-money choice, R G Rocket paid $4.00 to his many followers.
Yet another $10,000 conditioned trot went to Highland Yankee, superbly handled and rated by Bruce Ranger, in 1:56.4, over Gold Savage (Dan Clements), with Ramzan (Joe Pavia Jr.) third. Dream Lake rallied for fourth while Ill Tell You What finished fifth in the septet after a first over jaunt that pushed him into second around the final bend.
Making his first start off of a David Linker claim last week, Highland Yankee, trained by Dale Gilmour this night, shot out of the gate with his usual alacrity and, unlike last week where he was "chewed up and spit out" while parked every step, made the top easily and clocked a :28.2 opener. Ranger then rated his charge through a :30.3 second quarter and, as Ranger said after the race, "That was the ballgame" as this six-year-old son of Muscles Yankee sprinted home in :57.4 to seal the deal handily.
Highland Yankee is now three for nine in the win column this year with $21,385 in earnings. He's banked $268,578 lifetime and sports a mark of 1:55.
Highland Yankee paid $5.80 to win.
Also of note on the mid-week program, Iaintnomomaluke (Bruce Ranger), making his 99th career start and first for Karma Racing off of a claim last week, rallied late to pin a one length defeat on pacesetting Hold On Tightly in a 1:56.1 mile.
Dojea Adventure (Joe Sanzeri) rallied for third over Bit O Victory with Imahinkyconchman, ninth turning for home, rallying for the final cheque in the 10-horse field.
The win was the fourth of the year for the seven year-old son of Dream Vacation, who is now trained by Dale Gilmour, and 13th lifetime. He has now banked $23,031 for the year and $130,465 lifetime.
In Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 on Wednesday night, Bruce Ranger won with Allamericanextra (for his fourth win of the night) keying a 2-8-3-5-1 20-cent consolation payoff of $140.22 to 51 skillful handicappers. The Super Hi-5 carryover going into Saturday's program has vaulted to $92,000. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano)