In a classic “fist fight to the finish,” Fritzie Pic Up Man, driven by Wally Hennessey, eked out a photo finish victory over a very game Arsenal, with Dave Ingraham in the bike, in Pompano Park’s $10,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday night.

The official margin of victory was a head at the end of the 1:50.3 mile with Goldstar Raider and Kevin Wallis teaming up for third, five lengths off the winner.

At the outset, Arsenal, leaving from post five, left with his usual alacrity to take command with Thebestofjoel, leaving from post one, in close pursuit as Fritzie Pic Up Man wended his way carefully into third in front of Goldstar Raider. The opening quarter was in a hot :26.3 with the first four positions remaining stagnant through a half in :54.4.

On the backside, Hennessey pulled the trigger on Fritzie Pic Up Man and he quickly engaged Arsenal in war and pushed his head in front past the third station in 1:22.2. In the lane, these two pulled away from the field and fought tooth and nail right to the wire with the photo finish camera needed to separate the two at the wire.

After the race, driver Wally Hennessey remarked, “Well, that was something. Neither of us gave an inch in the lane.

“Turning for home, I thought I had the advantage but Dave’s (Ingraham) horse (Arsenal) still had a lot of fight in him and it was touch and go right to the line.”

Trained by Gaston Lareau for JP Houle Stables, Fritzie Pic Up Man, a six year-old gelded son of Always A Virgin, won for the fourth time in 18 starts this year, sending his seasonal bankroll to $31,945.

Career-wise, Fritzie Pic Up Man has 21 wins in 94 starts for bounty of $173,907 to go along with a 1:50 over the Harrah’s Philadelphia oval. Fritzie Pic Up Man paid $6.80 to win.

Besides the feature, Hennessey won four other races as he piloted Skeeball ($2.60), Silver Spir ($10.80), Trillionair ($12.80) and Beignet ($2.80) to the winner's circle, bringing his victory total for the last three racing programs to 18.

Dave Ingraham won three on the Sunday night card as he drove Deli-Craze ($10.60), A Fool For Mark ($5.20) and Needles And Pins ($12.60) to victory.

Hennessey and Ingraham accounted for the final eight wins on the Sunday program.

Racing continues on Wednesday night with a pair of features on tap as Keystone Bodacious headlines the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot and Sue's Night Out looks for a repeat in the $9,500 Open Pace for Mares.

First post is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.

(Pompano Park)