Berlin, MD — William and Sarah MacMillan’s Nuttin But Finesse was downright determined in winning Sunday’s (June 9) $12,000 Open 1 Handicap Pace at Ocean Downs, turning aside a pair of stout stretch challengers and capping a driving grand slam for Johnathan Ahle.
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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. 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 surpass $300,000 in career earnings. Fantastic Voyage narrowly took second over Iwannabewithyou.
Mike Hall trains Nuttin But Finesse, a 6-year-old Art Major stallion who paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.
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).
The sub-featured $10,000 Open 2 Handicap Pace saw Porter steer John’s 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 racing returns to Ocean Downs on Wednesday (June 12); the first of 12 races is due off at 7:05 p.m. (EDT).