Luca Derrico's Cadillac Phil, driven by Joe Pavia Jr., proved he can go zero to 35 in less than two seconds and went on to score a handy two length victory over Fancyfreeshark, handled by Bruce Ranger, in Pompano Park's $13,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night in 1:51.1.
Duc Dorleans finished third for Donald Dupont while EZ Noah and Dont Tell Rusty earned the final two awards in the septet of top pacers.
This five-year-old Ontario-bred son of Shanghai Phil won the early tussle out of the blocks with Fancyfreeshark, securing a clear lead just a stride or two past the opening marker in :27. From there, Cadillac Phil proceeded through fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.2 before Pavia put his charge in another gear, sprinting home in :27.4 while never threatened in the lane.
In a post race interview, Pavia said, "He lived up to his name tonight. He drove just like a Cadillac...and on cruise control once he took the lead. There were only two horses that drew inside of us that showed early speed and, when one of those didn't leave, I decided 'now is the time.' He had been returning to his sharpness of a month ago and, last week, was really motoring at the end. Luca [trainer Derrico] had him razor sharp tonight!"
Garnering his 13th lifetime win to go along with a mark of 1:49.3 up north, Cadillac Phil sent his lifetime bounty over $160,000 -- $92,870 of that earned last season.
As fourth choice in the win wagering pool, Cadillac Phil returned $11.00 to win.
A pair of lucrative carryovers are among the highlights of the Sunday night card.
The Pick 5 went untouched on Saturday night and that event covering races two through six sports a carryover of close to $5,000.
The Super Hi 5, to be contested on the last race of the Sunday evening program, has a carryover of close to $30,000 after multiple winners on Saturday night insured the largest to-date Super Hi 5 jackpot in the track's history.
Post time remains at 7:30 p.m. for the Sunday 11-race program.
(With files from Pompano Park)