For a trotter that had won 57 races during an illustrious career while banking $788,531 -- the richest in the field -- and with Pompano's leading driver, Bruce Ranger in the bike, Andover America certainly didn't get any respect at the mutuel windows on Wednesday night.
The nine-year-old incredible son of Andover Hall overcame the outside nine post to capture Pompano Park's $12,000 Open Handicap Trot...at odds of 28 to 1.
Trained by Stewart Nemiro for Mc Trade Enterprises, Andover America used a late rally to score a photo finish win measuring a neck over Its Payday Friday (Dan Clements) with the early pacesetter and 4-5 tote-board favourite, Buddy Hally (Peter Wrenn), third. Adenium finished fourth while Thekeptman picked up the final award. The time was 1:54.4.
As the gate opened, Count Speed (Wally Hennessey) left alertly vying for the top spot, only to be joined by Buddy Hally with Baby Boy Grin (Kevin Wallis) also interested in joining the fray.
After a :27.3 opener, the dust hadn't settled and Buddy Hally, finally clearing the lead, continued to be pressed by Baby Boy Grin through the half, timed in :56.2.
On the backside, Its Payday Friday brushed up to challenge and stuck his head in front at the third station, timed in 1:25.1. Meanwhile, Adenium had moved into a second over position while Andover America had improved to a third over spot and fifth, three lengths off the lead.
In the lane, Its Payday Friday and Buddy Hally fought tooth and nail only to be joined by Andover America at the sixteenth pole with Andover gaining the lead in the final strides.
In a post-race interview, driver Bruce Ranger said, "I wasn't about to join that wild party up front early. I had no choice but to take back. There were a couple of breakers in there early so I was able to get away a couple of lengths closer than I would have had they stayed straight. That may have been the difference. My horse (Andover America) is just a grand horse...trying every step of the mile."
Asked if he was surprised at the long odds, Ranger said, "Really? Gee, we were assigned one of the three outside posts so we must've gotten some respect in the racing office!"
Not only did Andover America win for the 57th time, it was the highest pari-mutuel win payoff ($59.80) in his grand career, eclipsing a $56.40 win payoff at Mohawk on August 20, 2012.
With a 2014 scorecard of 8-5-0 in 19 starts, Andover America has banked $54,950 for the year and $794,531 lifetime.
(Pompano)