Gold Star Gidget, craftily handled by Ricky Macomber, justified her 3-5 backing at the windows with a handy victory in Monday’s Mares Open Pace at Pompano Park.

The four-year-old daughter of Rock On, trained by Dick Macomber, was a bit more aggressive this time around. He took the lead a few strides before the :27.1 opening quarter and then clocked middle fractions of :57 and 1:25.4 before sealing the issue with a :28.3 final quarter. The winning margin for Gold Star Gidget was 1-3/4 lengths over the late-charging Looney Dune in a time of 1:53.2. Bay Girl pulled was third.

“This mare doesn’t leave all that well but she can grind forward a long way,” said driver Ricky Macomber. “In a short field like this, I didn’t want to take any chances of having someone else control the proceedings so I kind of ‘half-left’ and grinded forward to the top. She was well within herself the entire mile.”

Kevin Kelly, Tim Rzepka and Carol Macomber share ownership on Gold Star Gidget who now boasts a 2-2-1 record from six trips postward this season. The 12-time winner lifted her lifetime earnings to $102,933 with the win.

While Gold Star Gidget took top honours in the Open event for the ladies, it was Bombilla Hanover who lit up the timer with a splendid 1:52.3 mile in a conditioned-optional claiming event for mares.

This five-year-old daughter of The Panderosa, owned by Lewis Whitaker, along with Rick Berks and trainer Peter Blood, overcame a rough start before taking command right at the opening station in :27.3 and wiring panels of :56 and 1:24.1 before striding powerfully home for Bruce Ranger in :28.2 to score by 2-3/4 lengths over Mightymachthree and J K Geronimo.

(Pompano Park)