Paul and Patricia O'Neil's ultra-consistent Godiva Seelster used a :27.1 finale to hold Just A Bee safe at the wire in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Pace for Mares on Tuesday night.
The winning margin was a half-length and stretched the mare's streak of getting a purse cheque to 67 over a three-year span.
A five-year-old daughter of Cambest, Godiva Seelster won for the 11th time this season in 21 starts to push her lifetime bankroll over the $200,000 mark.
Togetherforever (Ed Hensley) finished third--five lengths away--while Mach It A Par and Jets Are On picked up the final awards in the octet.
Sprinting as the gate opened, Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) took command immediately from her seven post and Just A Bee (Mike Micallef), leaving from the outside eight post, left right along with her and settled into thee garden spot before the first turn.
After a :27 opener, Godiva Seelster rambled to the half in :56.4 and three quarters in 1:25.4 before sprinting home in :27.1 to secure the 1:53 victory.
After the win, driver Hennessey remarked, "I've said this before...this is a mare who knows how to take care of herself and it's amazing she has stayed sharp for so long. She is amazing, no doubt about that!"
Trained by Dan Hennessey, Godiva Seelster paid $3.40 as the tote-board 3-5 favourite.
Hennessey had another huge night after his opening night winning spree numbering seven -- six of those in a row. On Tuesday, he had five more victories, including a natural 'hat trick' on races five, six and seven.
Besides Godiva Seelster, Hennessey won the non-betting Florida Sunshine State Stake for three-year-old pacers with Caesars Forum, upsetting the highly vaunted Owosso Flash (Mike Deters) with a wire-to-wire win in a lifetime best 1:55.
Trained by 81-year-old Marc Aubin for Amante Standardbreds, the son of Six Of Diamonds left alertly from the rail and avoided confusion in the first turn when Drake made a miscue which scattered the field early on.
Again, superb rating -- :29, :58.3 and 1:27 -- made the difference as Owosso Flash closed fastest of all but ran out of racetrack late.
Gold Star Roger (Walter Ross, Jr.) finished third while Fonzie finished fourth. Stutz was awarded the nickel.
The win pushed Caesars Forum's earnings $36,144 with the bulk of the Florida Stakes season looming ahead.
Hennessey's other wins were with Mach The Kasbah ($9.20) and The Muscler ($9.20), providing the 'cookie' part of the Oreo sandwiched around Godiva Seelster. The claimer No Shenanigans ($4.80) capped the Hennessey night, with his victory total at 12 after the first two programs.
Hennessey shared the spotlight with trainer driver Mike Deters, who hopped in the bike to handle a pair of two-year-olds making their respective debuts in the other Sunshine State Stakes.
Deters guided Jason Mac Dougall's Conmans Dream, a son of Best Connection, to a sparkling 2:00.4 win over Danza (Corey Braden) and R Chism (Mike Micallef). ICU Diamond T and Gold Star Peter also earned their initial paycheques in that event.
He followed that a few minutes later by piloting Prairie Sweetheart to a convincing 1:58.1 victory in the companion Sunshine State Stake for the juvenile fillies. Diamond Lily (Micallef) finished second over Caitlins Romance (Mel Turcotte). Goldstar Lovebug and Jaycie Jaycie also earned their first paycheques, as well.
On the pari-mutuel program, Davita, aided by the scratches of her two main rivals, scored a win measuring nearly 10 lengths for Corey Braden in 1:56.2. Gold Star Sonata (Walter Ross, Jr.) was second followed by Gold Star Charming (Mickey Mc Nichol). Arties Diamond Gal picked up the remaining award in the quartet.
Davita, off at 1 to 20, paid the minimum $2.10 to win.
Racing resumes on Sunday night with Open pacers and Open trotters expected to be in the limelight with a growing carryover in the popular Super Hi-5 beginning to gather interest. Post time is 7:30.
(with files from Pompano Park)
Way to go Godiva. Quite a
Way to go Godiva. Quite a feat.