Bud light, pays big

For the second time in four weeks, Budlightning opened the Monday program at Pompano Park with a strong charge to the winner’s circle, taking the $8,500 feature trot in 1:57.3 at odds of 27-1.

Guided from post six by Stephen Lareau, Budlightning settled along the pylons in fifth place as race favorite Team Lavec took the field through an opening quarter mile in :28.3, before reaching the half-mile pole in :58. Team Lavec continued to trot down the backstretch with the lead as Absolute Resolve (Bruce Ranger) moved outside to attack first-over, with Budlightning following that cover through a three-quarters split in 1:28.

As the field made its way through the final turn, Absolute Resolve drew on even terms with Team Lavec, while Budlightning was angled three wide and quickly began to gain ground on the top pair.

In mid-stretch, Team Lavec dug in to turn back the challenge from Absolute Resolve, but the gelding had no answer for the fast-closing Budlightning, who took the lead in the final yards to prevail by a half-length.

Budlightning returned $56.40, $14.20, $6.00 for the victory. Team Lavec brought in $2.80, $2.80 for second, while Absolute Resolve paid $4.20 for third.

Owned by Diane Hellen and Walter Mc Manus of Pompano Beach, and trained by Hellen, Budlightning has won three of seven starts this year, and his Monday victory pushed his career bankroll over $160,000.

Budlightning is a 6-year-old gelded son of Sierra Kosmos, out of the Photo Maker mare Photogenic C. (Pompano Park)

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