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The aptly named Rare An WIndy proved to be much the best in the $9,000 feature race for four-year old and up $10,000 claimers on a blustery Friday at Fonner Park.
With swirling snowflakes and a brisk northwesterly wind, the James Compton-trained Rare An Windy set off the early pace of Country Warrior and easily defeated a seven horse field by five lengths. Rare An Windy was ridden for the first time by Larren Delorme in the six furlong race.
"I had never been on his back until today," Delorme said. " He ran so nice and easy, when I asked him to run, he just took off, with plenty in the tank.
After rains of Thursday, the track was listed in good condition, and Delorme said there did not seem to be a bias on the racing surface.
"It was really about the same all over the track," he said. "Neither the inside or the outside was really playing any different."
The second favorite in the race, Rare An Windy returned $6.80 to win while teaming with runner-up Country Warrior for a $58.20 exacta. Race favorite Mike's Pet finished third, a neck behind Country Warrior, to complete a $213.20 trifecta payoff.
Rare An Windy covered the six furlong distance in a best of the day time of 1:13:40.
Leading rider Yuri Yaranga and leading trainer David Anderson teamed up to win the first three races of the day, scoring with Paddy's Punk in the first race, Jigger in the second race, and Dryspell in the third race.
Making a name for himself on the day was young rider Jesus Ponce, who won back-to-back races in the fourth and fifth races. He captured the fourth with longshot Classic Valor and the fifth with Nakayama Jazz.
Ponce is competing on the Nebraska circuit for the first time in 2008. He was recently named the 2007 Aqueduct Apprentice rider of the year, receiving a saddle and plaque from the New York City racetrack.
Ponce's agent, Chad Olson, was pleased with his young rider's big day.
"He's really coming along here at Fonner," Olson said. "Jesus will be a force to be reckoned with on the Nebraska circuit the rest of the year."
The young Panamanian is a graduate of the Panama Jockey School.
Hoofprints
* Beth Butler rode two winners on the day, capturing the seventh race with Jacques Time, and the nightcap with Yesterday's Rose.
* In somewhat of a surprise, the late double payed considerably more than the late pick-three. The late pick-three 4-1-2 paid $115.00, while the 1-2 late daily double paid $161.20.
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