by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — 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.

Skip Smith photo

Nothinbutanallstar scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s $12,000 Open Trot on Wednesday night.

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 4-year-old altered son of Allstar Hall, was unhurried early and almost nine lengths back after the hot opener and took up the chase on the backside following live cover. He tilted out wide turning for home, wore down the leader and then held off the late surge of Holy 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 checks 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 5-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.

DC Flashback won for only the second time this semester — nine win 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 2-1/4 lengths over My Revenuer (Tom Sells) with the Florida bred Lugar (Bruce Ranger) third.

R G Rocket, a 7-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.

Highland Yankee is now three for nine in the win column this year with $21,385 in earnings. He’s banked $268,578 lifetime to go along with a mark of 1:55. Highland Yankee paid $5.80 to win.

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.