Jolenes Pinehonker, who made an untimely miscue turning for home last week, redeemed himself on Wednesday night with a sharp 1:56.1 win for Mark O'Mara in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Handicap Trot.
The five-year-old son of Pinetucky, owned by Lester Raber, edged past a game Lugar, driven by Bruce Ranger, in mid-stretch to score by a length. My Revenuer, handled by Bryce Fenn, closed fastest of all to finish third, followed by Spring Goal and Permanent Joy, who picked up the final awards in the field of eight.
With the well-regarded Count Speed making a costly bobble at the start from the outside eight post, Jolenes Pinehonker "kind of half left" from the seven slot looking for -- and securing -- a mid-pack spot around the first turn as Lugar forged to the lead and clocked panels of :28, and :56.1. As that mid-mile time went up on the board, O'Mara sent Jolenes Pinehonker from fourth and on the attack, charging alongside Lugar past the third station in 1:26.4 and, finally, wearing that one down once they straightened away for home.
"I was surprised that Wally's horse [Count Speed] made that break so I kind of half left to look for a closer spot to the leaders and, fortunately, I found a real nice spot in fourth," said O'Mara in a post-race interview. "Around that second turn, I thought I'd better get going and 'The Pinehonker' responded with some solid trot on the backstretch. He felt real strong turning for home -- much more solid than last week -- and he was good to the wire. He gave me a very good effort."
For Jolenes Pinehonker, the win was his fifth of the year in 13 starts, pushing his seasonal bankroll to $36,600. The win -- his 19th lifetime -- also pushed his career earnings over $350,000.
(With files from Pompano Park)