Kommander Hawk, again catch-driven by Matt Romano, scored a repeat win in Pompano Park’s Open 1 Handicap Pace on Saturday night.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Pro Bono Best bested the fast-closing Spring Again, handled by Andy Santeramo, by a length in 1:52.1 after clocking gate-to-wire panels of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:23.2. Monet C C (Bruce Ranger) edged out Special Strides (Rick Plano) for the show spot. Woodmere Ultimate picked up the final cheque.
Trained by John McNeill III, Kommander Hawk complimented last week’s wire-to-wire 1:51.4 win in similar fashion by taking the lead as the gate opened and virtually putting the field on ice with a backside brush in :27.2 to leave the competition unable to mount any serious threats in the lane.
Romano, in a post-race interview, said that this week’s journey was a bit less worrisome.
“Last week, he was a bit headstrong and I was a little concerned with that opener in :26 and a piece. This week, I was much more confident when I saw :27.2 up on the timer. Since John [trainer John McNeill] thought he’d be as good this week, I thought I’d let out a notch on the backstretch and he responded like a good horse does. All I did was give him a reminder or two in deep stretch.”
While the repeat victory was no surprise to the driver or trainer, it was a bit of a surprise to the betting public, who let the 'Hawk' go off at 12-1. (He was 5-1 when won last week.)
The win was worth $6,000 to owner Ellen McNeill of Vernon Center, New York and $26 to those who plunked $2 on the 'Hawk's nose. That hefty payoff keyed a $206.40 exacta, $1,068.60 trifecta and $3,236.80 superfecta.
For Kommander Hawk, it was 16th lifetime win and pushed his lifetime bounty to $113,007 -- $13,875 already this year in his first three starts.
Bruce Ranger had a driving triple on the Saturday nine-race card.
(Pompano Park)