Pain and Misery draws off in Gus Fonner Stakes

Pain and Misery rallied from off the pace to catch favorite Pinson and win the $75,000 Bosselman Pump & Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes on Saturday at Fonner Park. Pinson held second, finishing a neck in front of third-place finisher Midnight Ruler.

The Bosselman/Fonner, a 1 1/16-mile race run around three turns, is the richest race in Nebraska.

Pain and Misery ($9.60) settled just off the pace as Academy Bay set pressured fractions of 24.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.80 for the half-mile. Pinson took over through six furlongs in 1:13 as Pain and Misery advanced, moved past a wall of horses in the stretch, and pulled clear. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:45.80.

“My first time on this track, the five furlongs,” said winning rider Israel Hernandez. “I never rode on a short track. I like it!

“I tried to stay close to the speed. The last quarter pole, when I asked him, he finished good.”

Edward Kereluk trains Pain and Misery for Tyree Wolesensky. The horse is a son of Bob and John and he earned $45,000 for his win, which was his sixth career victory from 31 starts. He has now earned $499,432.