In an action-packed night of mid-week racing at Pompano Park, Second Sister and Zoraze shared the limelight in the track's $11,000 co-features, while Born To Thrive and Sing Foe Me George annexed the pair of odd-distance events.
Second Sister, a new arrival in the Mike Deters Stable from Michigan owner Jerald Hawks, put in an ultra-game effort and eked out a victory in a three-horse photo for Jim Meittinis in 1:56.
The six-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe was a head better than a stubborn Diamond Dagger (driven by Peter Wrenn). Modern Mercury, with Wally Hennessey in her bike, finished another head back in third.
A TC Queenie was fourth and Vicki All fifth.
At the opening bell, Modern Mercury went sizzling off the wings to take command and brought her foes to the quarter in :28 with JS Foxy Lady in the garden spot and Second Sister a cozy third and Diamond Dagger fourth and on the move.
Around the second turn just short of the :56.4 half, Diamond Dagger took charge but, on the backside, was confronted first over by Second Sister with Modern Mercury a chilly third along the inside.
Straightening away after three quarters in 1:26, the war was on as Diamond Dagger and Second Sister traded punches while Modern Mercury joined the fray on the inside.
At the wire, it took the photo finish camera to separate the trio with Second Sister escaping with the victory.
Trained Mike Deters remarked after the race, "I just got this mare not too long ago and I thought she tightened up pretty good in her first start after a month off. Jimmy (driver Meittinis) said she on 'go' the moment she stepped on to the track and I was very pleased with her performance — very pleased."
For Second Sister, it was her 16th career win in 78 starts, pushing her earnings to $369,679.
Off as second choice at 5-2, Second Sister paid $7.00 to win.
Zoraze, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. for trainer Edgar Clarke and the Jamie Marra Racing Stable, found some room a sixteenth out to roll by Midnite Craze, handled by Dave Ingraham, to score by a half-length in 1:56.1.
Katch Kanna was third for Wally Hennessey while BJAnthony and Railee Workable completed the order of finish.
Zoraze was relaxed as Midnite Craze and Katch Kanna traded place on the front end with the latter taking the field to the opening panel in :28.1 before Midnite Craze reclaimed the lead shortly after and took the field half way through in :57.1.
Midnite Craze continued on an uncontested lead past the third station in 1:26.2 and seemed home free until the final sixteenth when Zoraze found a seam and stormed on by in the final stages of the mile.
Zoraze now owns a 3-0-2 scorecard in five 2018 starts, good for $13,680 this season and $142,664 lifetime.
Third choice in the betting at 5-2, Zoraze paid $7.80 to win.
Another Pompano Park feature on Wednesday night was the $11,000 final of the Pop-Up Series for trotters which was contested at a distance of one and a quarter miles.
At the wire in the gruelling test, Born To Thrive, driven by trainer Rick Plano, scored by three parts of a length over Jack Rules, handled by Andy Santeramo, in 2:27 after early splits of :29, :59 and 1:29.1.
Explosive Jet, with Ricky Macomber Jr. handling the lines, was next, more than five lengths away with Uptoa Dream and Holiday Spirit collecting the minor awards.
Born To Thrive, a five-year-old gelded son of Swan For All, took command right at the opening marker and never had an anxious moment thereafter and won his third straight for owners John Campagnuolo, Victor Contento and Maryann Plano.
Born To Thrive now has 14 career wins in 65 starts with earnings of $207,488.
Off at 1-5 on the tote board, Born To Thrive paid $2.60 to his multitude of backers.
The $8.000 ‘Dash For The Cash’ was carded at the unusual distance of five-eighths of a mile an went to the classy Sing For Me George, driven by Mickey McNichol.
The classy nine-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight owned by Joseph Martinelli Sr., avoided an all-out war between Mach Power (Joe Sanzeri) and world record holder Winyard Hanover (John MacDonald) through early sizzlers of :26.3 and :55.1 before Sing For Me George closed bravest of all to score by three parts of a length in 1:09.3, well off the world record of 1:08.
Sing For Me George now has 29 lifetime win and $487,921 in the bank.
As the 3-2 favourite, Sing Foe Me George paid $5.00 to win.
Racing continues on Saturday night with a carryover in the Pick-6 and a Super Hi-5 carryover now at a season high $144,756.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)