Drachan Hanover, masterfully handled by Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey, took top honours in Pompano Park's New Year's Eve featured $11,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday (Dec. 31), stopping the timer in 1:52.
The then five year-old gelded son of Jeremes Jet – now six years of age with the new year – led at every station in scoring a neck victory over Sing For Me George, driven by John MacDonald. Sir Mammo, with Ricky Macomber in the bike, was third, three lengths away, after dawdling at the back of the quintet and subsequently closing fastest of all.
Fritzie Pic Up Man was fourth while Dees Rocket Man picked up the nickel.
At the outset, Drachan Hanover, leaving from post two, won a brief early battle with Sing For Me George and took the field through an opening panel in :27. Hennessey then was able to give his charge a :30 breather in the second quarter, reaching the half in :57. Drachan Hanover's third quarter sprint of :27.1 thwarted any serious backside challenge with his :27.4 finale sealing the issue.
In a post-race interview, Hennessey related, "When you have as classy a horse as this one is, and you can get him to the half in :57, you have to like your chances. Drachan (Hanover) is a (1):50 pacer, you know. He was good all the way around tonight!"
Trained by Marcel Barrieau for owners Lloyd Maclean and Kenneth Rankin, Drachan Hanover won for the sixth time in 26 starts to close out his 2017 campaign with $49,838. Career-wise, Drachan Hanover has $393,815 on his card to go along with a Pompano Park mark of 1:50.1.
As the 6-5 tote board choice, Drachan Hanover paid $4.40 to win.
Though Hennessey won the feature sending his 2017 win total to 335, the driving star of the night was Dave Ingraham who scored a grand slam on the card, including a consecutive triple to close out the track's Pick 5, which went unscathed on Sunday night.
Ingraham took the third race with St Lads Lotto ($23.60), followed in the next race with Spirit Shadow ($14.60), who won his fourth in a row, and then completed his "trifecta" of sports with Major Starlight ($6.00), who won his third in a row. Ingraham then capped off the "slam" by taking the final race of 2017 with Mikado Blue Chip ($5.40).
Pompano Park kicks off 2018 with fireworks in the form of several carryovers spicing up the "better for the bettor" program.
The track's Pick 5 has a carryover of $4,456 going into the Monday card, the fourth-race pentafecta offers a carryover of $6,108.57, the Pick 6 carryover stands at $1,676, and the Super Hi-5 finale offers a carryover of $39,710.
Post time for the January 1 extravaganza is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)