Baby Boy Grin, the pacing bred "trotting machine," took top honours in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Trot on Wednesday night.
Completing his journey in 1:55.2, the nine-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear, was driven by Kevin Wallis and pinned a one length defeat on the late-charging Shes All In, handled by Rick Plano. The early pacesetter, Increditable, with Aaron Byron handling the lines, finished third in a strong effort while Trot Fudge Sundae finished fourth. Gale Warning picked up the final award in the septet after a backside brush that put him at the winner's flank around the final bend.
Starting from the outside post seven, Baby Boy Grin churned up to take the lead right at the opening marker, clocked in :27.3. After reaching the lead, "Baby Boy" put up honest fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.4 before sprinting clear turning for home and then holding off the stout challenge of the classy mare Shes All In.
In a post race interview, Wallis said, "I was really proud of him tonight. You know he has raced mainly on half-mile tracks throughout his career -- oh, he's started a few times on larger tracks but not many -- and last week was the first time he raced here. I thought I'd send him tonight because he seems to like being on the lead. He fought for the lead tonight and, once he got there, he was grabbing on all the way."
For Baby Boy Grin, trained by Norm Dessureault for Geoff and Mary Howles, it was his 35th lifetime success, nine of which are this year. He has now banked $494,899 lifetime -- $72,297 this season.
(Pompano Park)