Just like game six of the World Series featuring a grand slam and many extra base hits in a wild scoring affair, Pompano Park had its share of double, triples and even a "seven-hit" performance as the track featured the second round of the FSBOA-sponsored Sunshine State Stakes for Florida sired and foaled two and three year-olds on Sunday (Oct. 31).
With 16 races -- five none-wagering -- on the extravaganza, driver Wally Hennessey had the "seven-bagger' while trainer Jake Huff had a training triple and Marc Major had a double, Braxten Boyd, Kevin Wallis and Joe Chindano Jr. also had extra base hits on the card. Also, driver Dale Hiteman, returning to The Pomp and coming into the action with 8,741 career victories, promptly added another to his long resume of success.
Here's a recap of the Sunshine State Stakes action:
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot (non-wagering)
Tom Casey's Charis, a daughter of Shibboleth Hanover, once again beat her only other competitor, Im Solar Powered (Marc Major), for the second straight time -- this win measuring 40-3/4 lengths. Charlis took charge immediately and widened her advantage with every stride, covering the mile in a lifetime best 2:07.4. Wally Hennessey, who also trains the filly, was in her sulky as she kept her lifetime scorecard perfect at two-for-two.
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot (non-wagering)
Prince Of Sussex, with Hennessey in the bike, took advantage of her three rivals making early miscues and went on to score a handy win 2:04 off fractions of :31.3, 1:03 and 1:33.4. The winning margin was 53-1/4 lengths over Gator Force (Ken Holliday), Oh No Not Again (Dave Ingraham) and Ditchemkwik N Howe. The gelded son of Creatine won his second straight at Pompano and sent his career bankroll to $47,601. Jake Huff trains the gelding for Heather Wilder and Herman Brewer.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace (non-wagering)
Prairie Merida, driven by Braxten Boyd, made a sweeping backside binge from third to take charge and held off a surging Come On Spank Me (Dale Hitemen) to score by a half-length in 1:57. The daughter of Royel Millennium, trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin, John Spindler and William Gordon, remains undefeated in her two career starts -- this after her 1:56.3 debut one week ago. Neverouttathefight (Mike Simons) finished third after a challenge around the final bend while PJs Fancy Dancer and Goldstar Snoball were next in the field of six.
Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace (non-wagering)
Cowboy Cool, with Hennessey handling the lines for trainer Rod Lorenzo, who co-owns with Souren Hovsepian, took a new lifetime mark of 1:55 in scoring a 1-1/2 length decision over Gold Star Sven (Corey Braden). Away third from his outside five post, the altered son of Western Terror made a quarter move to the top three-eighths in and had no serious threats thereafter, snipping two-fifths of a second off his previous mark achieved at Scioto Downs. Prairie Handsome (Boyd) was next, five lengths away while Forever Joe K was fourth. Gator At The Well picked up the minor award. Cowboy Coll now sports a 3-1-2 scorecard in seven starts and $16,182 in his brief career.
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trot
Ifnotnowwhen, gave Hennessey win number four as this sophomore gelded son of Muscle Massive rallied from the garden spot turning for home and wore down a game Seeking Matthew (Alessandro Spano) in 2:00.2 to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Shulda Hada Drink (Mike Simons) was third while Jo Jo Jet finished fourth in the quartet. Hennessey sent his charge to the top at the outset, yielded after the :31 opener and sat second as the leader cut panels of 1:00.3 and 1:30.2. Turning for home, Ifnotnowwhen left the coziness of the pocket and wore down the leader for his second straight Sunshine Stakes score. The winner is owned by Herman Brewer and gave trainer Jake Huff his second of three training wins on the card. The gelding's earnings climbed to $34,547.
Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace
Driver/trainer Dale Hiteman made his Pompano Park fall debut a winning one as he guided Hey Dont Tell Me to a 1:52.2 score over Theflyingrock (Simons). The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis was put in play early from the five post and quickly yielded to Theflyingrock, who posted fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:24.4 along the way. Turning for home, Hey Dont Tell Me left the garden spot and wore down the leader in the final stages to score by three-parts of a length. Gold Star Baron (Dave Ingraham) was third while Lucky Ramsey was fourth. Mister David C, prominent early, made a miscue in the lane but did pick up the nickel in the field of six. Owned by the DTM Stable, Hey Dont Tell Me established a new lifetime mark with the win -- his former mark also being 1:52.2 but over the larger Hoosier Park oval. Off at even-money, Hey Dont Tell Me paid $4 to win.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Ifnotmewho, a daughter of Credit Winner, off at odds of a dime-to-a-dollar, had a relatively easy time in scoring a handy 1:59 win over Prairie Virtue (Simons) with Ciao Bella (Spano) third after a garden journey all the way. Prairie Ginger and Prairie Trinket were next in the septet as Ifnotmewho carved all the panels of :29.1, 59.3 and 1:29. Owned by Herman Brewer, the winner gave trainer Jake Huff a triple on the card and sent the sophomore's lifetime earnings to $85,228. She paid $2.20 to win. It was Hennessey's fifth win on the card.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Dice Dice Baby, a daughter of Rockingcam, finally broke her maiden after 12 tries by scoring a game 1:57.1 win for Braxton Boyd. Away fifth in her field of eight, Dice Dice Baby was out and driving first-over from turn two, reached the saddle pad of the leader around the final bend, pushed on by turning for home and gutted out a half-length over the late-charging Prairie Dutchess (Kevin Wallis). Millenniums Girl (Simons) was next while Ms Rodeo Drive was fourth. The early leader, KKs Dream Girl, posting panels of :28.1, :59.2 and 1:28.3 managed to pick up the nickel. The winner, trained by Marc Major, prompted owner Mike Somerville to lament in a phone interview, "She really raced wonderful tonight. She was brave going first-up and looked determined turning for home. Marc (trainer Major) has done great with her. She's been hinting right along and she put it all together tonight." The lukewarm favourite at 2-1, Dice Dice Baby paid $6.60 to win.
Meanwhile, in the $12,600 Open II Pace, Actor Hanover driven by owner/trainer Kevin Wallis, used a :27.4 closing kick to roll by favoured Warrawee Veloce (Hennessey) in a lifetime best 1:50.4. His previous best was also 1:50.4 over the larger Meadowlands track. Double Metal (Mike Micallef) was third while Rocksapatriot and Agedchedar Hanover were next. Actor Hanover is a five-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous with this eighth lifetime success sending his career bounty to $182,112. Off at 7-1 as fifth choice, Actor Hanover paid $17.60 to win.
In the $11,000 co-feature, Jagger Rocks used an eye-opening sprint down the lane the first time to take charge in the second turn and went on to score a 1:51 win for Hennessey measuring 4-1/2 lengths over Hard Rock Hulk (Chindano) with Spirit Shadow (Ingraham) rallying from far back to finish third. Kotare Yael and Harry Terror also earned cheques in the classy field. Jagger Rocks is a five-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image trained by Peter Blood for owner Rick Berks. He paid $4.80 as second choice in the betting.
Meanwhile, Hennessey picked up win number seven on the card by guiding Freaky Flyer ($5.80) to win in a claiming event with the first three finishers in that event being "senior citizens" -- 13, 11 and 14 years of age, respectively.
(With files from Pompano Park)