In a "barber-pole 5-4-3-2-1" finish with the betting public spot on with their wagers, Ontario-sired Panocchio, 1-2 on the board, won Saturday night's highly anticipated Hippomania Pace in 1:50 for Bruce Ranger.
The four-year-old son of No Pan Intended, trained by Jim Mattison who co-owns with Emile Johnson Jr., led at every pole in pinning a 1-1/2 length decision over now arch-rival Duc Dorleans (2-1 in the betting), with Donald Dupont in the sulky.
Prairie Jaguar (6-1) finished third in the mile for Aaron Byron with Northern Companion (18-1) next and Mr Dennis (21-1) picking up the "nickel" in the sterling quintet, just as the betting public predicted at the mutuel windows.
At the outset, Panocchio, who was expected to be tested leaving the gate from his outside post, actually took command rather easily and "kind of" dampened the enthusiasm of his foes with a :26.3 opener, with Prairie Jaguar settling into the garden spot, Mr Dennis third and Northern Companion fourth leaving Duc Dorleans at the back of the select field.
Heading into turn two, Duc Dorleans was out and driving but Panocchio was able to get a :28.4 beathher under his girth, reaching the half in :55.2 -- tepid for the group.
On the backside with Duc Dorleans now into full throttle, Ranger stepped on the pedal as well and the "Duc's" individual backside panel of :26.1 could do no better than reach Panocchio's saddle pad with the three-quarters clipped in 1:22.1.
In the lane, Panocchio actually edged clear from his main rival and stopped the clock in 1:50.
In a post race interview, Ranger said, "The Mattisons -- Jim and Vicki -- have kept this athlete -- and he is an athlete in every sense of the word -- in tip-top form and he beat some very formidable foes tonight...and in a new lifetime mark, too. I think that first quarter 'kind of' was the key because he did get the lead rather easily. It was quite a mile for him."
Panocchio not only has won four straight, he has won seven of his last eight outings to push his seasonal earnings to $118,570 on the strength of 15 wins in 26 starts this year. He's banked $167,445 lifetime with 23 wins in 51 starts.
Panocchio paid $3.00 to win.
Also on Saturday night, the C. K. G. Billings Amateur event was held over the south Florida five-eighths mile oval and Sand Wyndham, driven by Anthony Verruso, reported home a 3-1/4 length winner over Master Begonia, with John Campagnuolo in the sulky.
Collect Call overcame the outside nine post with a heady drive by Mike Mitchell to finish third while the luke-warm favourite, Railee Kwik and Joe Pennacchio teamed up to finish fourth. Miriam Toland's Fleetwood Hall closed from last halfway through the mile to pick up the final award in the field of nine.
Sand Wyndham, a nine-year-old son of Pegasus Spur owned by Yves Deschambault along with trainer Marc Major, dawdled in sixth early on but was out and driving around the second bend and swept to the lead during the third panel and widened his margin through the stretch.
After the event, a jubilant Verruso said, "Marc [trainer Major] said that this horse gave a good hint of things to come in his last race and that he should be competitive. He was more than competitive tonight -- and in a formidable field, too."
Sand Wyndham came into the action as the richest performer in the field -- $509,519 -- in 193 starts complimented with 33 wins and a 1:53.2 mark.
Trainer Marc Major said, "He [Sand Wyndham] might not be the same horse he was at his peak but, when he's classified right, he is very competitive. Anthony did a great job driving him tonight."
Amateur driver Verruso now has 53 lifetime victories -- five this year in 35 starts.
Pompano Park's Pick 5 wager went unscathed for the second consecutive night and a healthy carry-over of $2,500 may prove to be a catalyst for Monday night's racing program. Post time Monday is 7:30 p.m.
(Pompano Park)