Credit Balance made his first-ever Florida start a successful one on Wednesday night at Pompano Park when he won the $8,500 Open Trot in 1:56.
Sent off as the second longest shot in the race, the five-year-old son of Credit Winner swept from fifth to first in the third quarter and held off the late charge of Prairie Big John for a neck win.
Hall of Fame reinsman Wally Hennessey pulled the eventual winner to the outside just before the halfway point in the mile, while Tom Sells had the eventual runner-up following right behind. They were joined by last week's winner Celebrity Legacy (Bruce Ranger), who got the show dough, in a stirring three-horse stretch battle.
The win was the 20th lifetime victory for Credit Balance, who is owned by Ron MacDonald and trained by Kim Seaman. The clocking was a lifetime best effort for the winner, who has raced most of the past two seasons at Rideau Carlton Raceway.
Racing resumes at Pompano on Saturday night with the track's richest program of the year, dubbed 'Florida Super Night.' Total purses for the evening will be $474,500, including eight $50,000-plus Florida Breeders Stakes contests for state-bred horses in each of the juvenile classes.
In addition, there will be a t-shirt giveaway as well as a Pick 4 pool estimated at over $5,000 as part of the gala night of racing.
(Pompano)