William and Sarah MacMillan's Nuttin But Finesse was downright determined in winning the $16,438 Open 1 Handicap Pace at Ocean Downs on Sunday, June 9, turning aside a pair of stout stretch challengers and capping a driving grand slam for Johnathan Ahle.
After protecting the lead from the pole position, Nuttin But Finesse briefly yielded control to last week's Open winner, Fantastic Voyage (Jared Moyer), before retaking from the pocket after a :28 first quarter. Once back on top, Nuttin But Finesse rated a :29.2 second split — and that proved to be enough of a breather for him to outlast not only a sustained first-over push from Iwannabewithyou (Trae Porter) through the final three-eighths of the mile, but also a second push from Fantastic Voyage, who re-emerged up the open stretch. Flanked by those challengers in deep stretch, Nuttin But Finesse gave all he had to secure a half-length victory in 1:53.1, using a :27.3 last quarter to seal his 30th lifetime win and push his earnings to nearly $320,000. Fantastic Voyage narrowly took second over Iwannabewithyou.
Mike Hall trains Nuttin But Finesse, a six-year-old Art Major entire who paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favourite.
Ahle also won with Perfect Promises ($5.20, 1:57.2), Mystic Waze ($4.60, 1:55) and Bonnie Ben Rockin ($4.80, 1:54.1).
In the sub-featured $13,699 Open 2 Handicap Pace, Trae Porter steered Johns Dream ($3.80) to a front-end 1:54.3 victory over Shane Adam and Walden Woods. Charles Perry Jr. owns and trains the 11-year-old Dream Away gelding, who has now won 47 times in his career.
Live harness racing returns to Ocean Downs on Wednesday, June 12. The first of 12 races is due off at 7:05 p.m. EDT.
(Ocean Downs)