The carryover for Pompano Park’s Super Hi-5 is $70,000 heading into the track’s program of live racing that is scheduled for this Saturday (March 28). Officials with the track have added additional fuel to the fire by carding the $15,400 Open Handicap Pace as the ‘event host’ for Saturday’s Hi-5.

A stellar field of 10 will face the starting gate, including newcomers Doo Wop Hanover (who has been installed at odds of 5-2 on the morning line) and Panocchio (9-2), both of which are expected to attract significant interest at the mutuel windows.

Doo Wop Hanover is a winner of $257,000 in career purse earnings and took his mark of 1:49 last season during his three year-old campaign. He finished a fast-closing fourth to McWicked in the Breeders Crown in his final start last season. On Saturday he will be making his four-year-old debut for trainer Peter Blood, who co-owns along with Rick Berks.

Mickey McNichol, who handled ‘Doo Wop’ in his 1:50.4 qualifying win at Pompano last week, will be in the race bike. The duo will start from Post 8. The son of Rocknroll Hanover will be sandwiched between Panocchio, a 1:49.3 winner in his last start at Pompano to close out last year’s campaign, and Duc Dorleans, who will bring a four-race win streak in Open competition to the table.

While speaking of Doo Wop Hanover, Blood said, “I’m not too crazy about having drawn the eight post in a bulky field like this, but Doo Wop showed he was tight with that qualifier last week and he can really do some rattling in the lane, so we hope for the best in this, his first start back.”

Panocchio will have the services of Bruce Ranger in the bike while Duc Dorleans, who is sporting a mark of 1:49 at Pompano Park, will have regular driver Donald Dupont handling his lines.

Ranger thinks the race will be hotly contested, especially early. “If the weather cooperates, I think we’ll see some very fast fractions – some real barnburners – especially early,” he said. “Last week, the opener was :25.4, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the half was :53 and change and I don’t think it would be prudent to mix it up too much with the leader at that point. That could set up for a track-record threatening mile.”

Pompano Park’s track record is 1:48.4.

While these aforementioned stars have lightning gate speed, their main competition may come from yet another blossoming star, Remissionofsins (7-2), a competitor that can bolt off of the gate with the best of them, as evidenced by his :25.4 opening quarter last week in the Open. He would ultimately be caught late, in the final stride or two, in what was a 1:50.2 mile.

Kevin Wallis will be in the bike back of Remissionofsins for the ‘Saturday night special.’

Wallis said, “This is the first time that I will have driven this horse, but I understand he does have some ‘hellish’ (keeping with the ‘sins’ theme) early. Off his recent performances, he should be competitive in the field.”

The field also boasts Cruizin K C (PP1, 15-1), Freeneasy Hanover (20-1), Northern Companion (15-1), E Z Noah (10-1), P L Hellcat (8-1) and Rajis Blue Line (15-1), starting from the second tier (Post 10).

Rajis Blue Line will have the driving services of Mike Micallef who said, “I realize that there are a few horses in there that might be a step or two better than mine but, the last time I checked, ‘Raji’ couldn’t read the tele-time on the infield board, so I am hoping to catch some live cover off of a lively half.”

First-race post time for Pompano’s Saturday program is 7:30 p.m.

(Pompano)