Pertty Music, who is owned, trained and driven by Ed Hensley, made her first career start at Pompano Park a winning one when she found a seam in the lane and stormed home in :28.1 to stop the clock in 1:51.3 on Monday (November 10) during the track’s $10,000 Fillies & Mares Open.
The four-year-old daughter of Jeremes Jet posted a one-length victory over a very gritty Godiva Seelster, who had led every step of the journey – except the final few – for driver Wally Hennessey.
Just A Bee, driven by Mike Micallef, also put in a game performance. She had pressured the leader most of the final lap, but fell one and a quarter lengths short at the wire. Elleofnxample finished fourth and the favoured Arodasi finished fifth in the eight-lass contest.
Godiva Seelster and Pertty Music showed gate speed early. Godiva reached the opening station in :27.3 before reaching the half in :56.3.
At that juncture, Just A Bee was already putting on the pressure and the pair of distaffers battled through a third panel of :26.3 and reached the three-quarters marker in 1:23.1.
Meanwhile, Pertty Music was just biding her time and patiently waiting for a seam to loosen up front turning for home. When the first stitch came apart, Hensley sent his charge flying and she was able to collar the leaders and go on to victory.
After the race, driver Hensley said, "She's shown she has a great kick, especially on a large track, so I wasn't sure about how she's handle a slightly smaller oval, having come from the larger one in Indiana. I haven't had her all that long, but she's proving to me that she can go with the top ones."
The victory was the fifth of the year in 24 starts for Pertty Music, pushing her seasonal bounty to $53,230. She's won 12 career races and has banked $198,647 in lifetime purse earnings. She owns a splendid mark of 1:51 that was taken over the seven-eighths surface at Hoosier Park.
Off as the 7-2 second choice in the betting at post time, Pertty Music paid $9.40 to her backers.
(With files from Pompano)