Ontario-bred pacer, OK Heavenly, handled by Kevin Wallis, snuck through along the pylons late in her mile to take top honours in the $11,000 Open Pace for mares on Wednesday night (January 18) at Pompano Park.

The five-year-old daughter of Sportswriter completed her journey in 1:52.1, pinning a photo finish defeat measuring a neck on the pacesetting Miss Mady, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr.

Metro Glide, with Tom Jackson in the bike, rallied from last early on to finish third, one and three-quarter lengths away, while Jets Are On finished fourth after a mild bid on the backside and around the final turn. Southwind Trini picked up the minor award in the sextet.

At the outset, Miss Mady, leaving from post four, went searching for the lead and opened up enough daylight around the opening turn to allow OK Heavenly, starting from post three, to wend her way into the garden spot ahead of Southwind Trini.

Positions remained constant through panels of :27.2 and :56.2 with only Jets Are On accelerating her jets on the backside to reach third, still two lengths away as Miss Mady reached the third station in a picked up 1:24.1.

Turning for home, the leader drifted out ever so slightly allowing OK Heavenly to take the shortest route home and on to victory.

After the race, Wallis said, "Well, what can I say? She lived up to her name tonight. She had a ‘heavenly’ journey and it all worked out well when there was room enough to get through. She’s been very good every time I have driven her and she was sharp again tonight."

Trained by Angela Coleman of the Rob Rittof Stable, OK Heavenly is now two-for-three this season — her only defeat being at the hooves of the very tough Wild Wanda — good for earnings of $13,750 after the first two and a half weeks of the new year. Lifetime, OK Heavenly now boasts earnings of $175,015.

Owned by Mark Winship along with the Dandy Farms, OK Heavenly was the 4-5 toteboard favourite and returned $3.80 to her many faithful. She was bred by Oak Knoll Stables of Campbellcroft, Ont.

Racing continues on Saturday night with a very competitive eight-race program featuring three divisions of the Florida Amateur Driving Club, in competition to determine the participants in a “triple crown” for amateurs at The Meadowlands, Goshen, New York and Delaware, Ohio during Little Brown Jug week. Post time for Saturday’s extravaganza is 7:20 p.m.

(With files from Pompano Park)