Panocchio, again superbly handled by Bruce Ranger, eked out a narrow 1:51.1 decision over Canadian invader Duc Dorleans at Pompano Park on Saturday night.
The four-year-old son of No Pan Intended, owned by Emile Johnson Jr. along with trainer Jim Mattison, led at every pole in 60 degree temperatures and withstood the furious late surge of the "Duc," who also got a splendid journey from Donald Dupont -- the official margin being a neck.
Rajis Blue Line, with Mike Micallef in the bike, was third two and three-quarter lengths away while Northern Companion finished fourth. Hurricane Howard picked up the final award in the field of eight with Cartoonist, the highly regarded Prairie Jaguar seventh and Next Flight In completing the field.
Beginning from the outside eight post, Panocchio again left sharply but, this this around, had to loop around both Prairie Jaguar and Duc Dorleans before assuming the lead around turn one and taking the field to the opening panel in :26.3.
At this juncture, Duc Dorleans, who began the fray one post inside Prairie Jaguar, had secured the second spot, keeping "Jaguar" outside, a situation he was forced to endure the entire way.
Through a half in :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:23, Panocchio continued to enjoy a lead slightly more than a length with Duc Dorleans continuing in the garden spot and Rajis Blue Line next.
Turning for home, Duc Dorleans left the cozy pocket and engaged Panocchio in a duel to the wire -- a duel he lost in the photo finish.
In a post race interview, driver Ranger said, "...with a talented field like this, I had no choice but to send Panocchio and try and secure the lead. If I don't, then I could find myself eight lengths out of it...and it's difficult to make up that much ground in a talented field such as this. He raced awesome again....very handy...and very game. Jim (trainer Mattison) and Vicki (Jim's wife) take great care of him and you can tell he's a very happy racehorse."
For Panocchio, it was his 14th victory of the season -- 22nd lifetime -- and sent his career bounty to $162,445 -- $113,570 this season.
In other Pompano Park happenings on Saturday night, a whole host of horsemen and women gathered in the winner's circle after the second race to honour the 100th birthday of Aime Choquette. Choquette, the legendary trainer for Delvin Miller for many decades, was not in South Florida for the festivities but, rather, took in the proceedings from his residence in Canada.
Also, the Florida Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association presented their monthly caretaker of the month award to Ron Young, caretaker of Tug River Dylan, who took a new trotting mark of 1:53.3 during the final days of Pompano Park's meet last May.
(Pompano Park)