Without blinking, Wink and a Nod defeats 1/5 shot at Mountaineer

After a layoff of nearly seven months, Wink and a Nod returned to the races at Mountaineer Park in April, and in his first five races of 2022, recorded three seconds and a third. Primed for a stellar effort, the 6-year-old gelding by Gone Astray was back at it yesterday in a race at five furlongs with only three rivals, but with the misfortune of having to face Donnels Creek, who was 1/5 on the tote board.

Alex Gonzalez took Wink and a Nod away second on the rail, then dropped back to third as Donnels Creek went up to vie for the lead. The favorite took over heading into the stretch, but Wink and a Nod never left the rail, powering to the lead and edging clear by a length at the wire. The gelding bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds and Ruth Delaplane raced five furlongs in :58.76, paid $9.60 and collected a check of $4,582. He improved his record to 8-11-5 in 43 starts with earnings of $81,057.