With Tropical Storm Eta all gone, Pompano Park finally opened their 2020-2021 season on Sunday night with a very competitive 13 race pari-mutuel program.

The extravaganza featured a million-dollar field in the Open Handicap Pace. Ideal Feeling scored a hard-earned victory in that event in 1:50.4 for Dave Ingraham, who was in the bike for trainer Peter Blood and owner Rick Berks. Late-charging Maxdaddy Blue Chip was a nose away in second with Mach West third, less than a length away.

Ideal Feeling, a rugged five-year-old son of American Ideal, began his one-mile journey from post 9 and went grinding towards the front through a demanding :26.1 quarter. There was hardly a breather from there as fractions of :54.1 and 1:22.2 followed.

Confronted by Mach West on the final bend, the pair raced as a team most of the way home, with Maxdaddy Blue Chip surging in the final stages but missing by a nose in the photo.

For Ideal Feeling, it was his sixth win of the year in 20 starts, pushing his career bounty to $261,943—$64,938 this season.

The winner paid $5.00 to win.

Also highlighting the opening night festivities were the two year-olds in the third leg Sunshine State Stakes, sponsored by the FSBOA. Two divisions were non-betting events.

Theflyingrock put in a sparkling performance for trainer Mike Simons in the colt/gelding pace, stopping the timer in 1:54.2 in just his second purse start.

The gelded son of Rockingcam sped to an opening panel in :28.1, repelling a bid by Mister David C, then went on to post fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.4 before sprinting home in :27.3 to seal the deal by three-and-a-half lengths over that rival. Buddha Beach rallied late for third while Lucky Ramsey completed the quartet.

The winner is owned by Marie Marsh, who also bred the youngster.

Commenting on the splendid performance, a humble Mike Simons said, “This was teamwork at its finest. Rick Marsh trained him down and turned him over to me a few weeks ago, Herb Gorens, the caretaker, has done a wonderful job, so, to put it in perspective, I was just along for the ride.”

The second non-wagering event was for trotting colts and geldings and was won by Ifnotnowwhen, driven by Wally Hennessey. The colt was placed first when Seeking Matthew, the photo-finish winner by a scant nose, went inside the pylons on to the victory, only to be disqualified after the judges review.

It was a classic war as both hit the wire in 2:01.3 off of fractions of :30.2, 1:01.2 and 1:31.1.

As the wings folded, Seeking Matthew, handled by Sergio Corona, darted for the lead as Ifnotnowwhen secured the garden spot. These two remained one-two just prior to the final bend as Hennessey left the cozy pocket to engage the leader in war. At the top of the lane, the pair were joined by Shuda Hada Drink, and they were three across the track until mid-stretch when the latter made a miscue to eventually finish third. Jo Jo Art was next in the field of four.

Ifnotnowwhen, a gelded son of Muscle Massive, is trained by Hennessey for Herman Brewer.

On the betting card were the Sunshine Stakes Two-Year-Old Filly Trot and the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace.

The juvenile trot went to Ifnotmewho ($4.00), a daughter of Credit Winner, handled by Wally Hennessey for owner Herman Brewer.

Ifnotmewho edged past a stubborn Prairie Virtue in the final few yards to hit the wire in 1:58.4, a lifetime best in her ninth start. Her previous best was 2:03.2 in a Vernon Downs qualifier. Ciao Bella was next followed by Prairie Trinket and West Haven in the field of six.

The winner left alertly, yielded after the first eighth and let Prairie Virtue take the field through panels of :29, 1:00 and 1:30.1, at which time Prairie Virtue appeared to get away from Ifnotmewho. But, turning for home, the two engaged in war through that :28.3 finale.

The win gave a “triple-double” of sorts to driver-trainer Hennessey and owner Herman Brewer, as they scored that earlier win with Ifnotnowwhen.

The two-year-old filly pace went, in an upset, to KKs Dream Girl ($11.00), driven by Corey Braden for trainer Maggie Audley and the Gold Star Farm.

The roan Mysticism filly edged by the 2-5 favourite Sheza Terror near the wire to score the photo-finish win that measured a head. Prairie Sweetness finished in the same photo a head further back to just miss all the marbles and be third. Ms Rodeo Drive and Gator Babe picked up the final two awards in the field of eight.

KKs Dream Girl, just a neck back in her first start in these Sunshine State Stakes three weeks ago, stopped the timer in 1:56.4 after Sheza Terror, hard pressed to take command from Prairie Sweetness at the :28.1 opener, wrestled through subsequent panels of :59.2 and 1:28. In the lane, the three fanned across the track with the magnificent-looking roan filly earning the win.

On the wagering side of the ledger, despite no winner comprising the Pick-5 being no more than 9-2, the 50-cent ticket paid $1,732.75. The Pick-5 comprises the first five races on each racing program.

Monday’s 10 race program features a “million-dollar field” in the Open Handicap Trot with Lightfooted Leegend, BJ Lorado, Beguin Dugoutier, Muscles For Life and Explosive Breakaway all seeking repeat wins.

Explosivebreakaway is the 9-5 morning line favourite and will have Tom Jackson in the bike for trainer Fred Grant, who co-owns with Janice Rubin and Murray Brown.

On the wagering menu, there Is a carryover in the fourth race pentafecta of $1,655 as Sunday night’s “Big-P” went unsolved. There is also a carry-over in the track’s Pick-6 for Monday night, as well as the Super Hi-5 finale.

Post time is set for 7:20 p.m. (EST).

NOTES AND QUOTES

Wally Hennessey got off to an excellent start in defending his dash winning crown by piloting four winners (one early non-betting) while John MacDonald had a triple on the card.

Braxten Boyd, the 20-year-old new-comer to South Florida, earned his first win here by steering Stellar BB to a photo finish win.

Skip To My Lou, a four year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou, eclipsed the $100,000 milestone with a win for Joe Chindano, Jr.

Big N Bad's 57th win in the seventh race sent that 10-year-old warrior over the $750,000 mark in career bounty.

Another 10-year-old, Cool Like Fire, is approaching a double milestone with his 48th career win, sending his bankroll to $398,860.

Yet a third 10-year-old, Feelin Lika Winner, capped the card with his win in the finale—his 37th win—vaulting his bankroll to $533,426.

Finally, trainer Maggie Audley, reflecting on the win by KKs Dream Girl, said, "We're just very thankful for the effort on behalf of our filly. She's still very green but Corey (Braden) has done outstanding work with her and she's starting to learn her trade...and enjoying it."

(Pompano Park)