Sing For Me George, driven by Kevin Wallis, took advantage of the absence of track record Panocchio and scored a solid victory in Pompano Park’s $10,000 Open Pace, stopping the timer in 1:50.4, a seasonal best.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight pinned a one and a quarter length defeat on the late-charging Here Comes William (Donald Dupont), with No Bad Dreams (Dave Ingraham) just a neck further back in third. Buddha Blue Chip and Winyard Hanover completed the order of finish in this classy quintet.
At the outset, Buddha Blue Chip and No Bad Dreams both left the gate with alacrity with Sing For Me George seeming to be a bit lackadaisical leaving with driver Kevin Wallis giving him a few “reminders” to finally join the fray around the opening turn and assume control.
After an opener in a snappy :26.3, Sing For Me George yielded to No Bad Dreams. The new leader took the field halfway through the mile in a sizzling :53.4 with Sing For Me George sitting chilly, Winyard Hanover brushing up into contention and Here Come George second over.
With three-quarters clocked in 1:22.2, No Bad Dreams turned for home with the lead with Winyard Hanover to his outside, Here Comes William fanning widest of all and Sing For Me George begging for racing room -- which he found and responded to a few more Wallis “reminders” mid-stretch to win.
After the event, Wallis remarked, “He was a little lazy leaving tonight so I had to give him a couple of ‘reminders,’ shall we say. He was probably a couple of lengths off the gate at the start so he had to do some catching up early to get in the game.
“The pace was quick and Dave [Ingraham]'s horse was on the bit so I had to yield and hope for the best. When we straightened away, all I could do was hope the inside path would open up and, when it did, Sing For Me George did his thing. The ground saving trip was the key here.”
Trained by Paul Bernardo for Joseph Martinelli Sr., Sing For Me George won for the fourth time this semester to send his seasonal bankroll to $38,860. He’s banked $428,964 career-wise.
As the 4-5 toteboard favourite, Sing For Me George paid $3.60 to win.
The Open 2 Pace went to Rockntouch, driven by Mickey McNichol, in 1:52.3. This four-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven eked out a photo finish win measuring a scant nose over the late-charging Abreathofreshart (Wally Hennessey). Heart Felt (Bryce Fenn) was a very fast-closing third followed by the pacesetter, Major Deagan, who cut panels of :26.1, :55.2 and 1:23.4 along the way. Dees Rocketman was fifth in the septet.
Changing tactics, McNichol sent Rockntouch out alertly and sat in the garden spot all the way, tilting out at the head of the lane and just holding off Abreathofreshart on the wire.
McNichol also trains Rockntouch for Salvatore Promuto and the Fred Monteleone Stable.
The gelding now sports a 9-4-4 scorecard in 31 starts with his 2016 earnings vaulting over the $50,000 mark -- $52,204 to be precise -- to go along with his Pompano mark of 1:51.3.
Rockntouch was the public choice at 8-5 and paid $5.20 to win.
Also worthy of note was the driving double by amateur driver Dein Spriggs, who swept both Florida Amateur Driving Club events on Pompano Park’s Sunday night program.
Spriggs kicked off his double by scoring with A Crown For Lindy, trained by Mark Winacott for owner Don Campbell. The 10-year-old Cantab Hall veteran gelding overcame the nine post position when Spriggs sent his charge surging at the start to find a cozy spot in third before finding room to roam on the inside as they turned for home, eventually scoring by three-parts of a length in 1:58.3.
It was the gelding’s 47th lifetime win -- 11th this year -- in 192 career starts, good for $396,378. He’s banked $45,397 this year.
As 2-1 second choice, A Crown For Lindy paid $6.20 to win.
Spriggs came back to win the other amateur race with the 17-1 chance, Skyway Pippen. That five-year-old altered son of Swan For All collared the leader in the final yards to score in a season’s best 1:57.4.
Trained by Howard Klohr for Dorothy Zarza and Delray Duo LLC, Skyway Pippen won for only the second time this season in 38 starts to send his 2016 earnings to $24,230 and lifetime bankroll to $59,170.
Skyway Pippen paid $37.20 to win.
Spriggs now has 420 lifetime wins.
Racing continues on Monday night with Boli looking for his third straight win in the Open Handicap Trot. The four-year-old son of Kadabra, trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O’Neil, will have the driving services of the track’s leading driver, Wally Hennessey, and has been made 9-5 in the morning line. Prairie Fortune, 8-5 in the morning line, returns to the racing wars after a week off and will be driven by the track’s second leading driver, John MacDonald, who will be in bike for co-owner Laurie Poulin and trainer/co-owner Mike Deters. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)