Lugar, the ultra-consistent Florida-bred son of Famously, scored a brave win at Pompano Park on Wednesday night, stopping the timer in a lifetime-best 1:54.3 for Bruce Ranger in the $10,000 Open Trot.
Trained by Mark Friedman for the Polo Stables, Lugar was a gate-to-wire winner, pinning a defeat measuring one and a half lengths on My Revenuer (Bryce Fenn) with Blushing Hanover (Mickey McNichol) third. HP Forte, making his first start back after a two month vacation, rallied late to finish fourth while Adenium picked up the 'nickel' in the field of six.
Not only did Lugar pick up win number four this season in start number 14, he sent his lifetime scorecard to 22-22-22 in 106 starts and his career bankroll to $173,519 -- $24,776 of that this year.
In a post race interview, driver Bruce Ranger expressed his satisfaction with the performance.
"I've gotten to know this horse pretty well over the past month and a half," said Ranger. "He's such a relaxed horse -- he was actually sleeping before the race tonight -- and, even though he was pushed to that punishing opening quarter, it was his own will, and not my urging, that got him there that quickly. We managed to get a little bit of a breather in the second quarter, but Bryce's horse [My Revenuer] applied some heat around that final bend and that's when Lugar -- again, on his own -- reached down for more. When he swished his tail at me a sixteenth out, he told me we had it. And I have got to give credit to Mark [trainer Friedman] who does an incredible job with him. No wonder he's batting .460."
As the 6-5 public choice on the toteboard, Lugar paid $4.60 to win.
(With files from Pompano Park)