Pertty Music, handled by George Napolitano Jr., scored a repeat victory in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Pace for the ladies on Wednesday night (March 1).
The seven-year-old daughter of Jeremes Jet led at every pole, clocking panels of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.1 before a :28 sprint home sealed the deal by one and a quarter lengths over Goldstar Rockette, driven by John MacDonald. OK Heavenly, with Kevin Wallis in her sulky, was next, five and a quarter lengths away while Misssomebeach Blue, making her season debut, finished fourth. Astarisontheway picked up the minor award in the sextet.
At the outset, both Goldstar Rockette and Pertty Music 'pushed' the wings out of the way in a battle for early superiority with the latter taking charge around turn one.
Three-eighths of a mile in, Jets Are On, fourth early, made a bid that turned out to be premature as she moved to within a length of the leader halfway through the mile. By turn three, that move took its toll as Goldstar Rockette regained her cozy position while sitting chilly.
At the top of the lane, Goldstar Rockette was tipped out, but was unable to dent the winner’s margin through the lane.
After the event, Napolitano Jr. said, “With the five post here winning at 24 or 25 per cent, it was the perfect post to use her early speed. She got to the top very comfortably and kind of sprinted the whole mile pretty evenly. She won on her own.”
For Pertty Music, owned by Souren Hovsepian along with trainer Rod Lorenzo, the win was her fourth success in seven starts this year sending her 2017 bounty to $24,670. Lifetime, she has 29 wins and $359,583 on her card to go along with a 1:50.2 mark taken at Pompano Park three seasons ago.
While the owners were enriched to the tune of $5,500 for the win, the two-dollar “punters” had to settle for a win mutual of $2.80.
The $8,500 Open 2 Pace for the mares went to Sweet Bet, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr.
This nine-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight, who was in for a $6,000 tag less than two months ago, has steadily moved up the ladder and the victory tonight in Open 2 company was her largest payday since November 5, 2014 at Pocono Downs.
Making a quarter move to the top at that first station in :27.2, Sweet Bet rolled through subsequent panels of :56.1 and 1:24.2 before striding home powerfully in :27.4 to hit the wire in 1:52.1, a seasonal best and just a tick off her lifetime mark set three years prior.
Miss Dollar Mam, driven by John MacDonald and leaving from the outside post, settled into the garden spot after yielding the lead to the winner and finished second while Single Me, handled by Jim Meittinis, the 4-5 toteboard favourite, was next, five and a half lengths back of the winner. Better Out West was next with Metro Glide finishing fifth in the field of seven.
Trained by Jason Robinson for owner Robert Main, Sweet Bet now has won six of her eight starts this year, good for earnings of $23,750. Lifetime, she has visited the winner’s circle on 42 occasions and now boasts $263,302.
She paid $4.80 as the second choice on the board.
Also of note on the Wednesday night card, the four-year-old mare Alabamashakey, with Mike Simons in the bike for trainer Rob Rittof and owner Mark De Vience, stretched her winning streak to six with a sharp 1:53 win—a new lifetime best.
The four-year-old daughter of American Ideal was away in good order from the rail and then made a move just past the :27.4 opener and went on to saw through panels of :56 and 1:24.2 before a final quarter of :28.3 sealed the issue.
Winless last season in five starts with a mere $1,545 in earnings, Alabamashakey now has $17,450 to go along with her winning streak this season.
As the 5-2 second choice, Alabamashakey paid $7 to win.
Racing continues on Saturday night with the Pro-Am Challenge featuring Tim Tetrick and David Miller, who have selected their teams for the Saturday show-down. Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)