Agedchedar Hanover, getting picture perfect handling from John MacDonald, used a garden journey and a :27.3 kick home to score a well-earned win in Pompano Park’s $14,200 Open Pace on Sunday night (April 10).

The six-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar squeaked by a game Rebellious (Wally Hennessey) to hit the wire in 1:51.1, a lifetime best clocking. The margin was a half-length with Villiam (Joe Chindano Jr.) just another neck back in third. The slight favourite, Seeing Eye Single, finished fourth while Beach Forecast picked up the nickel in the classy septet.

At the outset, Agedchedar Hanover zipped off the wings into an early lead before yielding to Rebellious at the :27.1 opener. Villiam was away in good order third early with Beach Forecast and Scootnroll following to complete the top five early.

Three-eighths into the mile, both Seeing Eye Single and Scootnroll tilted to the outside, so while the top three remained unchanged halfway through in :55.4, Seeing Eye Single had reached fourth with Scootnroll trying to catch the live cover flow.

On the backside, the pace accelerated and a :27.3 third quarter provided little opportunity for significant gain back of the leading Rebellious with Agedchedar Hanover now itching to leave the coziness of the pocket.

In the lane, while Rebellious was not about to quit the fight, Agedchedar Hanover had the race long benefit of the pocket and squeaked on at the 16th pole.

“I just did the steering and Jim’s (trainer McDonald) horse did the rest," said a humble MacDonald after the race. "You know, this horse does have some great speed leaving so I was hoping to leave and, hopefully, yield for the trip. That’s exactly what happened. Sometimes your plans work out and sometimes they don’t. Tonight, they worked out. Jim, of course, always has his horses ready to go when they’re put in the box. This one always performs well and tonight was no exception.”

Owned by Dona McDonald, Agedchedar Hanover pushed his 2022 scorecard to 3-3-2 in 13 starts to send his yearly earnings to $35,258 and lifetime bankroll to $191,974 to go along with his new personal best record.

Off as fourth choice at 6-1, Agedchedar Hanover paid $14.40 to win.

Amateur Action Continues

Amateur competition continued on Sunday at Pompano Park with Ron Cusimano, Joe Pennacchio and Jamie Marra all reaching the winners circle.

Cusimano completed the early Daily Double at The Pomp with a gate-to-wire win with Everyones Talkin, who he co-owns with Carlo Angelillo.

The Jake Huff trainee, an 11-year-old gelded son of Donato Hanover, vaulted his career earnings over the $350,000 plateau off of well-rated fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.2 to romp home in 1:56.3 for his initial win of the season in 12 starts. JS Jasper (Tommy Santeramo) was second after looking the leader in the eye around the final bend until mid-stretch while Celebrity Serena (Dein Spriggs) finished an evenly rated third. Steel Reserve (Don Cromer) was fourth while Keystone Blade (Joe Pennacchio) was next in the field of eight.

Everyone's Talkin paid $32 to win, completing a lofty $242.80 early Daily Double.

Cusimano now has 286 career wins.

Pennacchio took the second of the three amateur events as he guided the classy BJ Lorado to an easy win measuring just short of four lengths in a season's best 1:56.3.

The winner, an eight-year-old altered son of Bo W trained by Marc Major for Michael and Diane Norcross, used the rail post to perfection as be blasted off the wings and opened up a long lead through an opening panel of :27.2. While the gap closed a bit through the :56.2 half, Pennacchio's charge stretched the lead again on the backside through the third panel in1:26.2 before coasting home unthreatened as the even-money toteboard favourite. He paid $4.20 to win. The Big Muscle (Spriggs) was second after being far back halfway through while Mr Houdina (Jamie Marra) was next over Better Call Saul (Lee Morris) and Chav Hanover (Dennis Whittemore) in this octet.

BJ Lorado now boasts 34 lifetime wins and $255,762 in bounty. The victory was his first in 2022.

Pennacchio has 208 lifetime wins stretching back to his first in 1995 at The Little Brown Jug Fairgrounds.

Jamie Marra had to use all of his horseman's skill to hold Tech Titan together as this nine-year-old gelded son of  Muscle Hill appeared to come unglued turning for home, but Marra got him composed once more to draw clear to a three-length win in 1:58.1 over No Wine For You (Spriggs) and Forbidden Song (Santeramo), with Keystone Orion (Gary Barbere) fourth and A Little Go Go (Pennacchio) picking up the nickel in the field of nine.

Tech Titan earned his second success of the season -- 21st lifetime -- to push his lifetime bankroll to $177,592.

Off at 3-5, Tech Titan paid $3.20 to win.

The Florida Amateur Driving Club also announced a sizable donation to New Vocations and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the charities chosen by Gabe Prewitt and Pete Aiello for their epic match race held last Monday. The FADC has donated more than $240,000 to worthy causes since their inception made possible by the generosity of their membership that donates all earnings from driving in their amateur events to these causes.

Pompano Features $58K 'Thank You' Pick-5 Pool

Pompano Park Director of Racing Gabe Prewitt has been thinking of ways to thank its "Send It In Army" faithful for being part of the track's 58-year history, which ends Easter Sunday.

Oddly, Machiatto, Everyones Talkin and King Corona helped Prewitt come up with an explosive idea.

Those three equine athletes won the first three legs of the Sunday Pick-5 pool at odds of 9-1, 15-1 and 38-1, respectively, and, though heavy favourites won the final two legs of that exotic offering, no punter had a winning ticket on the 2-2-2-1-1 combo. Hardt At Work ($3.60) capped it off creating a carryover of $8,182.70 and Prewitt was "hard at work" with a "better for the bettor" bonanza featuring a $58,000 guaranteed pool -- $1,000 for each year of Pompano Park's luxurious history -- for the Monday Pick-5.

"I thought it would be more than appropriate to reward our 'Army' with the biggest Pick-5 guaranteed pool in our history and, along with a couple of other carryover pools, it should be a memorable night for our final Monday ever."

The other carryover pools are in the Pick-6 ($4,938) and the Super Hi-5 finale ($2,885).

The Pick-5 begins in the first race and covers races one through five while the Pick-6 starts in race three. The Super Hi-5 finale will take place on the final race of the program. Post time for the Monday card is set for 7:20 p.m.

(With files from Pompano Park)