Three-year-old gelding trotter Mega Man became the latest high-priced yearling to score a first career win while racing at Pompano Park

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The $50,000 purchase in the 2008 Harrisburg Sale (Hip 105) was unraced at two and originally trained by Deirdre (Dee) Hotton and had started in April at Pinehurst, NC and in May at Northfield Park before being shipped to Florida.

Mega Man, by Muscles Yankee-Mars Bar, is racing in Florida from the Chris Marino Stable for owner Michael Casalino of Freehold, NJ. With Bruce Ranger in the bike, Mega Man easily handled a maiden field in 1:58.

Two-year-old pacing colt One Lucky Dragon was also a winner on Tuesday and lowered his life's mark to 1:55.1 when moved up to the non-winners of two races lifetime class with Wally Hennessey in the bike. The $90,000 yearling by Dragon Again-Kiss My Lips is racing in Florida from the Dan Hennessey barn for Winchester Baye Acres of Ocala, FL and he's a full brother to the 2011 stakes placed three year old colt Wink N Atcha.

The spirit of competition is alive and well in the prime time of the 2011-2012 campaign at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing. Just ask driver Ed Hensley who has made a speedy return from a serious looking racing accident to earn his way to a spot into third in the drivers' standings.

"The accident in the Mares Open was eight days ago and my shoulder is still pretty sore...I'd say at this time I'm only about 90% healthy," said Hensley. "To hear I've moved into the top three in the standings does make me feel better, it's a good shot in the arm to keep on going".

Bruce Ranger is in his usual spot atop the heap at Pompano as the first reinsman to reach 60 wins on the meet. Mike Micallef holds down second spot at 39 wins, and Hensley's 34 winners to date this meet puts him two up on Wally Hennessey.

The Los Angeles-born 45-year-old reinsman also offered his recollections on his first career driving win at the now defunct track in his home state of California at Pomona. That was more than 4,650 wins ago as Hensley closes in on $22 million in career purse earnings in the bike. At Pompano, he's also continuing as a complete horseman and from his first 50 training starts this meet, Hensley has amassed a 7-11-5 slate for over $60,000 in purses. Lifetime he's harnessed up 1,582 winners on the training side for purse earnings of more than $8.2 million. Hensley is now making home at Boynton Beach, FL.

"The mare I train that was hurt in the accident, Keep On Flirtin, needed this week off but we've had the vet attend to her. She'll be in the entry box and I hope the class fills for next Monday evening," he explains. "I've been fortunate along the way to win driving titles at Cal-Expo, Fraser Downs and Tioga Downs, but with all the talented drivers around here you don't want to stay on the sidelines very long because the catch drives might start to dry up if your name isn't out there every day".

(Pompano Park)