Bell I No, driven by John MacDonald for trainer Tee Wine and the Jemaxpo Racing Stable, spoiled Southwind Amazon's quest for a 100th victory by scoring a narrow win in Pompano Park's $11,500 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday night (Dec. 13).
The eight-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven—who has made a habit of scoring many of his wins on the front—was "forced" to grab the garden seat this time around, collaring the favoured Southwind Amazon at mid-stretch and then holding off the challenge of 25-1 outsider Kinnder Jackson to score by a head in 1:50.2.
Southwind Amazon did finish third, three-parts-of-a-length away, while Lyons Night Hawk and Seeing Eye Single picked up the final two awards in the classy octet.
At the outset, Southwind Amazon (post 2) and Bell I No (post 4) got in a bit of a war, with Southwind Amazon stuffing Bell I No in the pocket an eighth into the mile. Past an opening panel in :26.4 and half in :55.3, these two remained one-two until Ideal Feeling applied some moderate pressure to the third station in 1:22.4.
In the lane, Southwind Amazon put that threat away but Bell I No rallied when finding a seam to take charge through with a sixteenth out, holding off the fastest-closing Kinnder Jackson by ahead.
After the race, trainer Tee Wine said, "I know John (MacDonald) wanted to control things like he did a couple of weeks ago when he wired in 1:49.3 (the fastest mile of the meeting) but, sometimes, things don't work out they way you plan."
MacDonald echoed the trainers sentiments when he said, "I know he's won most of his races on the front end recently but it was obvious that Tyler (Smith's) horse wasn't going to give it up, so I took the pocket and it worked out just fine."
For Bell I No—making his 150th start—it was his 32nd win, which pushed his lifetime bounty to $372,505 to go along with his mark of 1:48.4 this season at The Meadowlands. He's racked 10 wins this semester and $105,584 earnings.
Off as the third choice at 5-1, Bell I No paid $13.40 to win.
The $10,000 Open II Pace went to Real Peace with Ricky Macomber, Jr. in his sulky. The five-year-old gelded son of Real Desire made two moves in the mile to score a handy win in 1:52—a winning margin one-and-three-quarter lengths over Mach West with Caviart Reagan next. Plus One and Dash Of Danger picked up the minors in the field of eight.
Real Peace, trained by Devan Miller for Sylvia Burke, left from the coveted five post to take charge early, yielded at the opening :27 panel, and re-claimed the top spot to coast through fractions of :56 and 1:23.4 before a :28.1 coast home sealed the issue.
Real Peace won for the fifth time in 25 starts and sent his 2020 earnings to $53,163 and $213,283 lifetime.
The entire Sunday night program produced several photo finishes with the closest in the third race, in which all the six starters were clocked in 1:53.3 with that nod going to Whatchyastarinat—driven by Bryce Fenn for trainer Gene Miller and the Wolfswinkel Pacers, Inc. stable. Whatchyastarinat was also making his 150th start which now includes 27 wins and $230,064 in bounty.
Racing continues Monday with a $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool (12-percent takeout) and a Super Hi-5 jackpot finale at $9,500. Post time is 7:20 p.m. (EST).
(Pompano Park)