Baseball has its ‘Old Timers Day.’ Bowling has its professional senior category. The Old Timers Hockey Challenge is legendary. At Pompano Park, it’s the ‘Over-The-Hill Gang’ event for trotters eight years of age and older that has become a very popular event in south Florida.
On Tuesday night, the sixth edition of the Over-The-Hill Gang trot was contested with a full field of nine, and the only mare in the field, M T Ur Pockets, started her 10-year-old campaign with a gutsy win over her male counterparts, as she stopped the timer in 1:56.
Trainer Mike Simons, part owner of the mare along with Albert Abdala III, was in the bike for the one and a half-length score over the nine year-old Undercover Bro, who was handled by Tom Jackson.
Ramzan, the ‘youngster’ in the field at eight years old, rallied for third and finished two and a half lengths away, while Lexis D J finished fourth. R G Rocket overcame the outside Post 9 to finish fifth.
M T Ur Pockets , a daughter of Hard Rock N Roll, started from Post 2 and was away in good order in third. Benns Score Keeper and Adenium were playing a game of musical chairs through the opening fractions (:27.2 and :57.2). Undercover Bro, who was fourth early on, was on the attack past the halfway point, and it was with M T Ur Pockets who caught his live cover.
With a picked-up three quarters in 1:26, Undercover Bro stuck his nose in front, but was immediately confronted by M T Ur Pockets, who used a :29.4 final quarter to score the win, which was her 34th career triumph.
In a post-race interview, Simons compared his 10-year-old mare with a good bottle wine, saying, “She just seems to get better with age.
“She just loves what she does and can brush with the good ones. She’s just a tough mare that loves when she has room to roam on the racetrack.”
Coming off her best season on the track in 2016 with earnings of $50,013, M T Ur Pockets now has career bounty totaling $233,625.
As the 3-1 third choice in the wagering, M T Ur Pockets paid $8.80 to win.
Pompano racing will continue on Wednesday night, as a quintet of mares is scheduled to head postward in the track’s $11,000 Open.
OK Heavenly, who has been knocking hooves with Godiva Seelster and Safe From Terror — both of whom will be absent this week — has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite. Kevin Wallis has been listed to drive.
Metro Glide, Arodasi, Miss Mady and Dreas Good Powow complete the talented field.
There is also a carryover of $1,200 in the track’s Pick-6, which covers Races 3 through 8.
First-race post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)