Fillies and mares were in the spotlight Monday night at Pompano Park with Pertty Music scoring a repeat win in the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares and Saint Pattys Doll taking the photo finish victory in the similar feature event for trotters.
Pertty Music, owned, trained and driven by Ed Hensley, took command shortly after the starting gate sprung and went on post panels of :27, :56.2 and 1:24.3 en route to a victory by 1-1/2 lengths over P L Hula in 1:52.4. Winbak Heavenly finished third
After the race, driver Ed Hensley spoke of his journey in a single word, "Awesome!"
He then continued, "Actually, it was a very good effort on a chilly (60 degree) night (for South Florida). Yes, we had the outside post but she can sprint an opener in :27 pretty handily. Nothing developed until we reached the final turn and, then, when I saw Kevin's (Wallis') mare (Keystone Christa) brushing, I just chirped once and my mare never was in danger after that.”
For Pertty Music, a five-year-old daughter of Jeremes Jet, it was her second success of the young year and 16th lifetime, sending her career bounty to $228,022. She paid $3.40 to win.
Saint Pattys Doll, handled by Bruce Ranger for trainer Jake "300" Huff and Stable 45, used similar tactics to take down the victory in the companion event for the distaff trotters, holding off the futile late surge of Trot Fudge Sundae by a neck in 1:57. Escrow Blue Chip, trotting the fastest final panel of the seven mares in the event, rallied from last turning for home to finish third.
"Last week, she gave me a good hint with a solid effort after showing a willingness to leave out of there, so, this week, I just let her do her own thing out of the gate,” said driver Bruce Ranger. “She got to the top pretty easily (:28.2) and then she relaxed and got to the half cheap (:58.2). She heard some competition on the backside so she picked it up on her own and seemed to put away Dave's (Ingraham) mare (Trot Fudge Sundae) around the final bend but I had to remind her a couple of times late. I was glad to see the wire."
Saint Pattys Doll, a six-year-old daughter of Conway Hall and a nine-time winner last year, won for the initial time in 2015 for her 16th lifetime win, sending her lifetime bankroll to $136,335. She paid $10.40 to win.
(Pompano Park)