Casies Believer, brilliantly handled by Joe Chindano, Jr., split horses in deep stretch to capture Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open for Mares on Tuesday (April 20), stopping the timer in 1:53.

The six-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar eked the narrow win by stalking leader Prairie Westerngal throughout the mile from the garden spot, leaving the cozy pocket when they straightened for the drive home. The pocket popper held off a determined Tempus Seelster by a length with Prairie Westerngal another half length away. Roll With Angel finished fourth while Evas Sports Czech picked up the final award in the classy sextet.

As usual, it was Prairie Westerngal leaving with her sharp early foot, opening enough daylight to allow Casies Believer to find the spot in the garden right behind. Through an opening panel of :27.4, positions remained virtually unchanged through the :57.3 half with only Tempus Seelster gaining a spot from fifth into fourth.

As the pace quickened on the backside with a :27.3 split, Prairie Westerngal maintained her lead with Casies Believer breathing on the Hennessey’s helmet and Tempus Seelster right alongside. During the :27.4 finale, Chindano Jr. wended Casies Believer out and threaded his way through for the victory.

In a post-race interview, Chindano Jr. said, "Casies Believer is very handy and very sharp right now. She's consistently good and seems to be as fresh at the end of a mile as at the beginning, I left out of there figuring I might be able to make the top and then sit second on a retake by Wally's (Hennessey) mare, who is terrific, as well. When the two spot opened up, I took it, hoping for the best when it counted. She really dug in halfway down the stretch."

Owned and trained by Chindano, Casies Believer won for the fourth time this year giving her a scorecard reading 4-6-1 in 14 starts, good for $42,390, already eclipsing her entire 2020 earnings. She’s banked $138,624 lifetime.

Off at 4-5 on the board, Casies Believer paid $3.80 to win.

The $10,000 Open II Handicap Trot went, in an upset, to Enzio, driven by Jim Meittinis.

The five-year-old gelded son of Neely Dunn started gnawing away on turn two, brushed up to join the fray around the final bend and wore down The Lionking As to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:54.4. The favoured Stick With Me Kid finished another neck back in third while Burn Notice and Gemologist completed the top five in the field of six.

Trained by Kelly Paver, who co-owns with Julie Davis, Enzio earned his second win of the year in a dozen starts building his seasonal bounty to $15,685 and $84,491 lifetime.

As fourth choice on the board at 8-1, Enzio paid $18.40 to win.

Racing continues on Sunday (April 25) with a competitive eight-race program with post time scheduled for 7:20 p.m. (EDT).

(Pompano Park)