In a five-horse blanket finish, Lyons Johnny, driven by Ed Hensley, eked out the narrow victory in Pompano Park's $13,500 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night.
The seven-year-old altered son of Mach Three defeated Cadillac Phil, handled by Joe Pavia Jr., by a scant neck with E Z Noah, stablemate to the winner, third for Aaron Byron. Pacesetting Duc Dorleans was fourth while Thatll Be The Rei picked up the final cheque in the octet.
As the gate sprung open, a quintet of these all-star pacers were vying for early superiority with 47-1 shot Histoire Eternelle, driven by Bruce Ranger, taking the early advantage before yielding to Duc Dorleans at the opening marker in :26.1 while Thatll Be The Rei settled into third for Mike Micallef. Prairie Jaguar, usually more comfortable on the front end, had to settle for a seat in fourth with Lyons Johnny finding a spot right behind "The Jaguar." Cadillac Phil was sixth at this juncture with E Z Noah next and a struggling Dont Tell Rusty at the back of the pack.
Halfway through the mile, clocked in :53.4, positions remained but, three-eighths out, Thatll Be The Rei was out and driving and racing as a team with Duc Dorleans. They passed the third station in 1:21.4 with Lyons Johnny fanning three-wide, Cadillac Phil motoring four-wide and E Z Noah widest of all.
In the lane, just as at the start, the field fanned five across the track with Lyons Johnny striking the front a sixteenth out and holding off Cadillac Phil at the wire. E Z Noah, pacing the fastest final panel of the group, nailed down show honours over the hard-fighting Duc Dorleans.
In a post race interview, Hensley said, "Heck, my horse loves to be on or near the lead too, but starting from the outside and with five of 'em battling early on, I had no choice to relent a bit and find a spot as close as I could...and that was in fifth. The pace was pretty hot and that kind of helped our cause, especially when we turned for home. He wore 'em down in the lane and, after I got to the top, I saw Pavia's horse [Cadillac Phil] pacing on late...but then the wire came and that was that."
Trained by Pete Pellegrino for the Baron Racing Stable, Lyons Johnny kicked off the 2015 campaign as he closed the 2014 season, with a win -- his 23rd lifetime -- to send his lifetime earnings to $242,925.
As the 9-5 favourite, Lyons Johnny paid $5.60 to win.
Also highlighting the Saturday program was a Super Hi-5 event featuring a hefty carryover and, once again, there were multiple winners enabling the carryover to soar well over $20,000 going into the Sunday night program. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)