Fonner Park, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — Mark Hibdon entered two horses in the 51st running of the $20,000 Tondi Stakes Saturday at Fonner Park.
The five horse, Axel Steel, was a speed horse and was going to go out fast. The eight horse, Drivehappy, was a closer.
The betting public liked Axel Steel and he 4-1 at post time. They didn’t care much for Drivehappy who was 18-1.
Hibdon felt differently about it.
“My money was on the eight,” Hibdon said.
That proved to be the smart money. Drivehappy, with jockey Victor Bailon on board, battled down the stretch with Arthurian and nipped him at the wire by a nose, winning the six-furlong race in 1:13.00 over a fast track.
Drivehappy, a 7-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Runhappy and Entrustment, sat in seventh place early in the race. Spirit’s Mischief, the three horse who won the Grasmick early this racing season, went wide on the first turn and took Under Oath and Axel Steel with him. That cleared out some room for Drivehappy on the inside part of the track.
“I was feeling pretty darn good about my chances (with Drivehappy) at that point,” Hibdon said.
Drivehappy moved into third down the backstretch and was in perfect position to make a move.
He was second by half a length heading into the stretch, but was able to edge Arthurian at the wire.
“I told Victor before the race, I said I felt this race is going to set up for you with all the speed in here,” Hibdon said. “You just have to give him a chance and he’s going to be there.
“Just keep it close, don’t take yourself out of it. Maybe four or five lengths, I think you’ll have a shot to run them down.”
And run them down is just what he did.
Hibdon claimed Drivehappy June 21 at Lone Star for $10,000. He said it was the first time Drivehappy ran for that low of a price.
Since then, he’s had a first, three seconds, three thirds and three fourths to go along with a fifth..
“He’s one of those horses that just flies under the radar,” Hibdon said. “He’s always second, third, fourth, picking up checks against some really nice horses. Everytime I run him, I’m going ‘He’s going to win today.’ I think he’s won one race in a year. This one was a good one to get.”
This happened to be the day he won, and it was the first time Bailon had ridden him. David Cardoso, who is Hibdon’s No. 1 rider, had ridden him several times but Cardoso rode Axel Steel this time.
“It’s my choice. I always try to put David on what’s going to be the favorite as far as odds go, for the most part,” Hibdon said. “When I entered the horses, I was thinking five (Axel Steel) was my best shot. But after watching the way the track played today and the wind and all the speed, I started feeling better about the eight.”
It was the seventh win in 46 career starts for Drivehappy. The win was worth $12,540 for Hibdon, who is also the owner. That brings
Drivehappy’s career earnings to $205,729.
Drivehappy paid $38.40,. $12.20 and $7.40. Arthurian paid $6.80 and $4.40 for second while Subsidize paid $8.80 to show.
Hoofprints
— For likely the first time ever, nine of the 10 races on Saturday had purses of $10,000 or more. The only one that didn’t was the last race, for $5,000 claimers, which had a purse of $8,400.
— Bailon also won the 10th race on Town Branch for trainer Gerald Big Hair.
— The Dinsdale Automotive Pick 5 Jackpot went out Saturday. One perfect ticket claimed the jackpot of $22,639.40.
