Thundercrest, handled by Dave Ingraham, eked out a narrow victory in Pompano Park's top trot on Wednesday night (May 2), as he stopped the timer in 1:55.4, which equalled his lifetime-best performance.
The ultra-consistent five-year-old gelded son of Crest got up in the very last stride to edge by a stubborn Up The Alley, driven by Dewayne Minor. The winning margin was a head.
Boli, who started from the outside Post 9 for driver Wally Hennessey, finished third. Railee Workable finished fourth. Overnight Shipper finished fifth.
As the wings folded, Thundercrest left from Post 5 and was away sharply along with Up The Alley and Midnite Craze. Boli was also outside and looking for an improved place, but, at the opening station in :28.4 over a somewhat dull racing oval, it was Thundercrest on top with Up The Alley in the garden spot and Midnite Craze on the attack and pressing forward.
Midnight Craze was able to wrestle the lead around the second turn and was two lengths clear at the half, which was recorded in a picked-up :56.4.
On the backside, Up The Alley surged from third, brushed forward and took the lead from Midnite Alley past the third marker (1:26.4) with Thundercrest ready to pounce from the pocket and Boli second over.
In the lane, the war between Up The Alley and Thundercrest really heated up, as the duo sprinted hard to the wire. Thundercrest's :28.3 final quarter got the job done.
After the race, the humble Dave Ingraham related, "This horse races [well] just about every start. He's handy, he's got gate speed, he can relax, he's go the ‘go’ power late and he's got a winning attitude. A big part of this win took place a few days before when he drew the five post and the others, especially Wally's trotter (Boli) drew outside of us."
Trained by Dave's son, Dustin Ingraham, for owner Mike Richards, Thundercrest now sports a 7-4-3 scorecard from 18 starts, good for $43,835. The win also pushed his career bankroll over the $100,000 mark -- $101,581 to be precise.
Sent off as the even-money favourite on the tote board, Thundercrest paid $4.20 to win.
The companion event carded as an Open III, went to the rugged mare Diamond Dagger, driven by Bryce Fenn. The eight-year-old daughter of ABC Garland, was outside and grinding forward just about every step of the mile -- in her case a mile and 20 yards -- to score in 1:56.3.
Diamond Dagger's win also closed out the track's Pick-5 for the night with nary a single ticket on the 5-2-5-6-8 combo resulting in a carryover of $4,707, thus, the track will offer a $20,000 guarantee on the Pick-5 for Sunday.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)