Boli, driven to perfection by Wally Hennessey, in the garden spot for much of the journey, found a seam along the pylons turning for home and went on to score an upset victory in Pompano Park's $12,000 Open Handicap Trot on Monday night (March 20).
The five-year-old gelded son of Kadabra scored by three-parts-of-a-length over the pacesetting Sooo Handsome, handled by Rick Plano, stopping the teletimer in 1:55.
Prairie Fortune, the 1-2 favourite with John MacDonald in his sulky, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths off the winner, while Explosive Muscles finished fourth. Dog Gone Lucky, making his south Florida debut, earned the minor award in the classy sextet.
At the outset, Boli pushed the wings out of the way into an early lead but, right at the opening marker in :28.1, relinquished the top spot to Sooo Handsome with Explosive Muscles third and Dog Gone Lucky fourth.
Massive Lightning was fifth at this point with Prairie Fortune trailing but able to improve one spot as Massive Lightning made a miscue.
Sooo Handsome was able to get away with a soft half in :58 with Boli sitting chilly on the backside as Prairie Fortune brushed alongside at the third station timed in a picked-up 1:26.2.
Turning for home, Sooo Handsome drifted out a bit allowing Boli to charge on through along the pylons and secure the win on the strength of his :28.2 finale.
Boli, driven by Wally Hennessey, was an upset winner in Pompano Park's top trot on Monday night.
In a post-race interview, driver Hennessey said, "Boli has always been capable in this class and he really needed his first two starts here to tighten up. His first start, I kept him off the pace and, last week, I tried him on the front where likes to be but he just wasn't quite tight enough to go all the way.
"Tonight, I left with him again thinking he would be ready for a good effort but, when Rick's (Plano) horse (Sooo Handsome) came along, I wasn't about to get in a war and decided to sit chilly and sit second. I don't think Rick's horse is used to the front ell that much so it was kind of a blessing to be sitting second all the way.
"Turning for home, I found some room on the inside and Boli was willing tonight and the shortest distance home was the right path tonight."
Trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O'Neil, Boli won for the initial time in three starts this season. Boli now has 16 lifetime wins in 51 career starts with $155,772 in lifetime earnings to go along with a 1:54.4 mark over the Saratoga half-mile oval.
As third choice in the betting at 6-1, Boli paid $15.80 to win.
The $10,000 Open 2 Trot went to Sailer Eddie, driven by owner-trainer Kevin Wallis.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall earned his third win of the year in seven starts by stopping the timer in 1:54.3—his fastest winning performance since December 29, 2015.
My Revenuer, driven by Bryce Fenn, finished a length away after taking the lead turning for home, while Fleetwood Hall was third for Rick Plano. Tater Twister, a stubborn and un-relenting leader through panels of :27.1, :56 and 1:25.2, finished fourth while Caviart Griffin picked up the final award in the field of six.
Sailer Eddie, leaving from post five, attempted to out-hustle Tater Twister off the gate but was unable to do so and had to settle for the garden spot mid-way around the opening turn.
Heading into the final bend, Sailer Eddie sat chilly as My Revenuer rushed up alongside the leader past the third station.
As they turned for home, Sailer Eddie found some room and was sent widest of all to mow down the leader in the final stages for his 20th lifetime victory, sending his career bankroll of $355,351.
As the 4-1 third choice, Sailer Eddie paid $10.20 to win.
In other Monday action at Pompano Park, driver Michel Heijnen, a native of Hiluersum, Holland, won his first race on U.S. soil by driving first-time starter Imheretotakeover to a 2:01.1 victory in a conditioned trotting event.
Heijnen drove the Chuck Sylvester-trained three year-old son of Donato Hanover to a victory measuring 1-3/4 lengths after a sharp drive by stalking the leader turning for home and using a :29 finale to score the win.
Sylvester co-owns the colt with Amy Lynn Stoltzfus, the M T Pockets Stables and MR Racing, Inc.
Off as the slight even money favourite, Imheretotakeover paid $4.20 to win.
Racing continues on Tuesday night trotting mares in the spotlight in the $8,500 Open Handicap with Serendipitious in search of her third straight win. This six year-old daughter of Majestic Son will have Pompano Park’s leading driver, Wally Hennessey, handling her lines and is listed as the 2-1 morning line favourite.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 carryover continues to grow and stands at $21,392.46 going into the Tuesday night program. The track is also featuring a $10,000 guarantees pool in the Pick-4, contested on races 6 through 9. First post time is set for 7:20
POMPANO PICK-6 CARRYOVER IN RECORD TERRITORY
Tuesday night is expected to be an exciting night at Pompano Park, as the track's Pick-6 wager has a carryover that now is in record territory.
The Pick-6 has not been conquered over the last four racing programs and now sports a carryover of a record $16,997 going into the Tuesday program.
The Pick-6 covers Races 3 through 8 and a consolation payout is offered if there are no tickets with all six winners.
Post time for the Tuesday program is 7:20 p.m.
(with files from Pompano Park)