Letters From Home writes from winner's circle

Letters From Home and driver Mark O’Mara wasted no time obtaining the lead in the $26,100 Future Stars Series final at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino on Friday. The duo led nearly gate to wire to grab the top prize in 1:53.2, a new lifetime mark.

Starting from post eight gave Letters From Home a little challenge at the start of the race. However, O’Mara had him ready for action, pursuing the top spot as the Todd Nixon starting gate folded. After clearing the front at the quarter-mile marker in :27.4, Letters From Home had a little breather before the outside attack of Really Sexy Guy and Elliott Deaton, who came at the leaders in a fury at the halfway marker in :57.2.

Letters From Home never relinquished the top spot. The 5-year-old Cape Crusader gelding maintained control of the pace, and passed the three-quarter mile marker in 1:25.1.

In the stretch, Letters From Home had every right to be overtaken, but he kept his momentum up with no signs of fatigue, crossing under the wire by 1 3/4 lengths ahead of the second place finisher. Bernardi, driven by Trace Tetrick, never really hit his quick stride home until halfway through the lane, moving in for second. Boogilee Boogilee and Neil Coleman maintained their ground inside for third.

The win for Letters From Home was his fourth in eight outings for 2009. Owned by Lynn and Brett Wilfong, the Indiana-sired gelding increased his career bankroll to the $30,000 mark.

“With the outside post, I knew it would be close, but I wanted to be in front and avoid trouble,” O’Mara said. “We got jammed and I didn’t want to waste that move to the lead, so I wanted to keep it going. He (Letters From Home) turned in a good effort tonight.”

O’Mara also turned in a good effort on the 13-race card, bringing home four winners. O’Mara’s first win was recorded in the seventh race with Master Regan, Stan Bayless’s Best Bet of the Night. O’Mara followed that up with SD Poignant in the eighth and Belle Peppa in race nine before his win with Letters From Home in the Future Stars final.

“It’s always a surprise when you have a good night and win four races,” O’Mara said. “When you start expecting wins, the horses don’t race well. I always appreciate it when it happens. I had hoped for a better night tonight. The night before, I couldn’t do anything.”

O’Mara, who is closing in on 2,000 career wins, is best known for his work behind the great pacer of the 1980s Jate Loell. O’Mara guided Jate Lobell to 30 wins and more than $2.2 million in earnings. He also earned 2-Year-Old Pacer of the Year in 1986 and returned as the top sophomore in the nation in 1987. O’Mara currently has 26 wins at Hoosier Park, through Friday, Apr. 17, to be ranked second in the standings behind leader Peter Wrenn, who has earned 45 wins during the first 19 racing programs.

Earlier in the day, Mister Big, the 2008 Pacing Horse of the Year, made his 2009 debut in qualifying action. The 5-year-old Grinfromeartoear horse rounded the seven-eighths mile oval in a time of 1:55.3 for driver Brad Hanners. Mister Big is expected to qualify a few more times before heading out on his 2009 racing campaign. (Hoosier Park)

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