Nay Borhood Nipsey, under jockey Erik Esqueda, won the closing race at the brand-new Lake Mac Casino-Resort-Racetrack's inaugural one-day Quarter Horse meet on Tuesday.

© StalioneSearch / Greg Thompson

By StallioneSearch

OGALLALA, NE—AUGUST 19, 2025—The brand-new Lake Mac Casino-Resort-Racetrack hosted its inaugural one-day Quarter Horse meet on Tuesday, and fans were treated to three competitive races conducted over a fast racing surface.

The opening event set the tone for the afternoon as Dear Dash held off a determined late rally from Mollys Fury to claim victory in Race 1, a $20,000 250-yard dash for Nebraska-bred maiden fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up.

Breaking alertly from post four, Dear Dash reached the wire in 14.300 seconds, prevailing by a head over Mollys Fury, while Melody of the Wind finished third.

Dear Dash, a 4-year-old filly by Hp Dash To Fiesta out of Dear Dyna by Bloomin Affair, races for owner-breeder Jeffrey S Cox and is trained by Schuyler Condon. Purse payoffs were not available.

Wagering returned $3.00 to win, $4.00 to place, and $2.10 to show on Dear Dash.

Fans gather at the Lake Mac Casino-Resort-Racetrack's inaugural one-day Quarter Horse meet on Tuesday.
© StallioneSearch / Greg Thompson

Pyc Angel Eyes finished fourth.

The second race of the program, a 350 yard allowance for 3-year-olds and up which have never won two races, produced the afternoon’s biggest surprise as Gray Valiant surged late to upset the field in the 350-yard contest, stopping the clock in 20.011 seconds.

Sent off at generous odds, Gray Valiant scored by a head over Sassy Classic Chic, with Poppys Cartel rallying for third.

Gray Valiant, a California-bred son of multiple stakes sire Jess Being Valiant, races for owner Alexis Eliezer Torres Vargas and is trained by Jose Chavez. Jockey Minor Arana had the riding call aboard the gelding out of Got No Interest by Separate Interest.  Purse payoffs were not available.

The win returned $10.20, with place and show payoffs of $3.60 and $3.40, respectively. Exotic bettors were rewarded handsomely as the $2 exacta of 1-6 returned a whopping $147.80, the $2 quinella paid $47.60, and the $2 trifecta with 1-6-ALL combinations was worth $143.00.

Completing the field were Seriously Impressive, Valeries A Flirt, First Prize Grown Go, and Stalekracker. B A Flirt was scratched.

In Tuesday's closing race of the inaugural Quarter Horse meet at Lake Mac Casino-Resort-Racetrack, Nay Borhood Nipsey surged late to capture the $18,000 purse in the 350-yard contest for 3-year-olds & Up.

Breaking from post position six, the talented runner trained by Theodore Alexander and ridden by Erik Esqueda stopped the timer in 19.623 seconds on a fast track and drew clear by three-quarters of a length at the wire.

Cornell Burkhalter is the owner-breeder of the Lil Kool Wagon 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred filly out of Hooked On Disco by Hooked On Cash.

Sheza Prized Perry finished a strong second after a determined stretch bid, while Wisper Jet rounded out the trifecta with a game effort to secure third. Purse payouts were unavailable.

Nay Borhood Nipsey rewarded backers handsomely, returning $17.20 to win, $8.60 to place, and $6.00 to show. Sheza Prized Perry paid $5.60 to place and $3.80 to show, while Wisper Jet returned $3.60 to show.

Exotic wagers brought even greater rewards for bettors. The $2 exacta combination of 6-8 returned $58.20, while the $2 quinella yielded an impressive $93.00. The $2 trifecta of 6-8-1 delivered the biggest return of the day, paying a lucrative $371.60.

Stolin Home Brew, Injeanius, Ac Giddyupgo, and Soft Country Eyes completed the field. Jims Capo lost jockey.

Nay Borhood Nipsey’s victory closed out Lake Mac's successful debut racing day, thrilling fans and adding a dramatic finish to an afternoon of competitive racing.

With competitive fields and strong wagering returns, the inaugural Quarter Horse meet at Lake Mac Casino-Resort-Racetrack marked a successful debut for Ogallala’s newest racing destination.

Fans and horsemen praised the state-of-the-art facility and its fast racing surface, setting the stage for what promises to be a bright future for Quarter Horse racing at Lake Mac.

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