Panocchio, fresh off of a 1:48.3 track record performance at Pompano Park last Sunday, looks to defend his title in the featured $10,000 Open Handicap Pace this Sunday.
The five-year-old son of No Pan Intended, owned by trainer Jim Mattison along with Emile Johnson Jr., will, once again, have Dan Clements in the sulky as this lifetime winner of $280,188 seeks his 35th career victory and 11th of this current semester.
Trainer Mattison is in awe of his star performer reflecting, "He's just an amazing horse that keeps throwing pleasant surprises our way. He sure keeps a smile on our faces." The "our" refers to wife Vicki, who "is the one who keeps him happy!"
Panocchio's task will not be an easy one as Alexas Jackpot, the mighty fine son of Million Dollar Cam from the Marty Fine Stable, is back in to go after setting up Panocchio's new mark by cutting fractions of :26.4, :54 and 1:21.3 before finishing a strong second to the winner last week. Joe Pavia Jr. will be back in the bike back of Alexas Jackpot.
Also in the field is Duc Dorleans, making his return to Pompano Park. This son of Shanghai Phil, now five, is trained by Jacques Dupont and will have Donald Dupont in the bike for this encounter.
Duc Dorleans is the richest performer in the field with $578,185 to go along with a 1:48.4 mark at Mohawk Racetrack. The "Duc" also owns a 1:49 mark here at Pompano.
Whogoesfirst, Lyons Johnny and Next Thing Smoken complete the talented million-dollar field.
Also on the Sunday program is the highly anticipated appearance of the leading driver up in the Canadian Maritime provinces, Gilles Barrieau.
Barrieau, a native of St. John, New Brunswick, has won well over 4,000 races during his start-studded career with 151 of those this year in only 440 starts, which translates into a UDRS "batting average" of .510.
Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey calls Barrieau the "Ty Cobb" of harness racing explaining, "you know, Ty Cobb was one of the greatest hitters in baseball history and batted over .400 on several occasions.
"Barrieau bats over .400 just about every year, too. In fact, I don't think he's been under .400 for the past 10 years."
Hennessey is correct.
Since 2005, Gilles Barrieau has "batted" over the magic .400 mark every year with a full season high of .495 in 2006, based on his 217-114-94 scorecard in 629 starts.
Barrieau is down to drive three races on Sunday night -- the ninth, 10th and 12th races.
In the ninth, Barrieau will handle the lines back of Electric Albert for Gary Mc Donald, listed at 8-1 in the morning line and coming off of a win at Rideau Carleton Raceway in his last start.
In the 10th, trainer Mc Donald has entrusted the line to Barrieau back of F Twenty Two, also making a debut at Pompano Park and also 8-1 in the morning line.
In Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 finale, Barrieau will handle Scotty Mach N -- again for trainer Mc Donald -- coming off a win at Rideau Carleton, as well. Stepping up in class after that success, Scotty Mach N is listed as a 15-1 chance in Pompano Park's morning line for the 12th.
Sunday post time is 7:30 p.m. with a $10,000 guarantee in place for the track's Pick 4, covering races six through nine.
(With files from Pompano Park)
I don't think there is any
I don't think there is any question about whether Gilles Barrieau has the ability to succeed at Pompano Park. Hopefully he gets the opportunity to drive competitive horses and has a great inaugural season there. Good luck Gilles !