Budlight a Pompano winner

After grinding out an extended first-over trip, Budlightning put his head in front in the final yards of Monday’s $8,500 featured trot from Pompano Park to prevail in 1:57.1 for his second victory of the year.

Driven from post three by Bruce Ranger, Budlightning found a comfortable spot on the rail in fourth place as Damon Runyon (Mickey McNichol) trotted through an opening quarter mile in :28.3 and reached the half-mile marker in :58.1 after a :29.3 second panel. As the field straightened out down the backstretch, Budlightning was angled off the pylons by Ranger to begin his methodical half-mile, first-over journey.

Damon Runyon continued to show the way through a three-quarters split in 1:27, and at the top of the stretch held a one-length advantage over the pocket-sitting Absolute Resolve with Budlightning nearly two lengths off the leader.

That margin was quickly cut down to a half-length at the edge of the tote board, and in the shadow of the wire Budlightning put his head in front to secure the victory.

Damon Runyon held on for second while Ashcos Scotty, who tracked Budlightning’s cover, made a late charge to finish third.

Budlightning returned $13.80, $4.40, $2.40 for the victory. Damon Runyon brought in $3.80, $2.40 for second, while Ashcos Scotty paid $2.60 for third.

Budlightning is an 8-year-old gelded son of Sierra Kosmos, out of the Photo Maker mare Photogenic C. The gelding is owned by Diane Hellen and Walter Mc Manus of Pompano Beach and is trained by Hellen.

The victory was the first of four trips to the winner’s circle for Ranger on the Monday. Pompano Park’s leading driver returned to take the second race with O Glory Be ($7.40), the fifth race with Divine Reactor ($5.80), before completing his four-pack of victories with Tropic Motion ($6) in race nine.

Conditioner Jacques Dupuis had three winners on the Monday program, taking the fifth race with Divine Reactor, the seventh race with Happy Riggs ($36), before finishing off his training triple with Car-Lin’s Touché ($21) in the evening’s finale. (Pompano Park)

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