Nic A Jack, on the lead and pressured nearly every step of the way, took the six furlong, $25,000 Ogataul Stakes Saturday at Fonner Park.

Down the lane for the first time Nic A Jack joined speedster Super Charlie on the lead and the two of them went nose to nose through the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch.  Coming out of the turn the pair had 4 lengths on the field but by the time they bent into the far turn, 4/5 favorite Diamond Joe started looming on the outside and closed to within a half-length of the lead.

As the field straightened out, Super Charlie was long gone and the favorite was fading, giving Nic A Jack a two length advantage with about 100 yards to go.  The pressure wasn’t over though, as Bach’s Homebrew came charging hard on the outside but missed by a half a length.  The time for the Ogataul was 1:14.00.

“We knocked on the door all last year and we just couldn’t get it done,” said owner/trainer Ron Raver.  “But we sure knocked it down today.”

Nic A Jack paid $10.40, $4.80 and $2.60.  The late coming Bach’s Homebrew paid $6.20 and $2.60 while the favorite, Diamond Joe, paid $2.20 for the show.