Track record holder Panocchio, who scorched the Pompano Park oval in 1:48.3 last year, will make his fall debut at Pompano Park this Sunday night (October 23) during the track’s Open Pace.
The six-year-old son of No Pan Intended, who is owned by Emile Johnson, Jr. and trainer Jim Mattison, heads into the action with 42 lifetime wins – half of which have come at Pompano Park – and $364,849 in career purse earnings.
So far this season, Panocchio has a 6-7-2 scorecard after 19 starts. He heads into Sunday off of two victorious qualifiers, which came after having taken a short break from the races. "[You] know, he races tough every start, and I thought it would be good to give him a few weeks off – he deserves it,” said Mattison.
"His two qualifiers were fine and Wally (driver Hennessey) just let him do his thing... no stress on him and all on his own.
"He doesn't like to train much. In fact, a good training mile for him in 2:30!
"He's been so good to us, and part of that, I hope, is that we are good to him, too. My wife, Vicki, treats him like part of the family – which he is!"
The Sunday program also features the finals of the Sunshine State Stakes, which will showcase the top two and three-year-old Florida-bred Standardbreds.
In the final for the sophomore trotting fillies, Kevin Kelly's Goldstar Brianna will take her unblemished record – 12-for-12 – into the event.
The daughter of Basil set lower her lifetime mark to 1:57.3 in her last race, despite the fact that the track was termed ‘sloppy,’ as heavy rains pelted the oval.
Dan Hennessey trains the filly, and his brother, Wally Hennessey, is expected to be in the bike.
Sunday’s first-race post time is set for 7:20 p.m. Three carryovers highlight the card – the largest being over $3,000 in Pompano Park's Pentafecta fourth race.
(Pompano Park)