Three-horse race

Wright, Defoe, Baumgardner coming to checkers three wide

BRACEY, Va. – All week at the Stren Series Northern Division event on Lake Gaston, three pros have been jockeying for the top spot: David Wright, Ott Defoe and Chris Baumgardner.

Wright and Defoe have traded the lead over the last two days, but Baumgardner has been right on their bumpers the whole way, applying pressure and waiting for them to falter.

Now the three anglers are separated by less than 2 pounds, and it’s another 3 pounds back to the fourth-place position. In essence, it’s a three-horse race now.

What’s interesting about this event is the pros are all doing something different.

Wright is cranking out deep, Defoe is using a topwater and a Senko shallow, and Baumgardner continues to fool Gaston fish with a ChatterBait around docks.

Over the last three days, Wright has the highest marks for consistency. He’s chugged along at 15-1, 13-3 and 12-14 over the last three days for the lead at 41-2.

Defoe has checked in 15-7, 14-10 and 10-9, respectively, for 40-10.

And Baumgardner’s track record has been 15-12, 9-11 and 13-14 for 39-5.

Wright may have the consistency in his deep bite, but Defoe and Baumgardner are a threat to weigh in a 6-pounder or better. Both anglers have weighed in several 5-pound-plus class fish this week. In fact, Defoe took big-bass honors on day two with a 6-7.

As for Wright, his biggest bass has been in the 4-pound class.

Essentially, if Defoe or Baumgardner does not get a big bite or two to push his limit to the 13-pound range, then Wright will likely win. But a 6-pounder for either angler could take them to victory lane.

The final-day weigh-in of the Stren Series event will take place at the Wal-Mart in Henderson, N.C., starting at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:12 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 73 degrees

Expected high temperature: 87 degrees

Water temperature: 75-80 degrees

Forecasted winds: light and variable

Day’s outlook: overcast