Ask Me Ifi Care, bravely and confidently handled by Mike Micallef, scored a game repeat win in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Tuesday (Dec. 15), stopping the timer in 1:51.4.
The sharp five-year-old daughter of Manhardt—who swept wide off live cover in winning last week’s top event for mares—secured her repeat win by going first up in a brave move this time around, edging by the leading and stubborn Prairie Westerngal to score by three-quarter lengths. Crisp Mane closed stoutly to finish third, just a nose back of Prairie Westerngal. Image of a Dream finished fourth while Tempus Seelster earned the minors in the classy field of six.
At the outset, Prairie Westerngal pushed the wings of the starting gate out of her way and zipped to a quick lead around the initial turn. After a hot opening quarter in :26.4, Big Thong was in the garden spot with Tempus Seelster next and Ask Me Ifi Care fourth.
Heading into turn two, Micallef tilted his mare to the outside and began gnawing away. After a :55.4 half, Ask Me Ifi Care reached second three-eighths from home and drew alongside the leader around the final bend with three-quarters clocked in 1:23.3. Shortly after straightening away, Ask Me If I Care stuck her head in front and began edging away ever so slowly in the final stages.
In a post-race interview, Micallef said, “This was not the easiest of trips going first up but my mare is sharp and she is confident in her own ability…and she showed that tonight. I certainly wouldn’t want to go first up against mares like this every week, but, tonight, she really shined and I am very proud of her.”
Micallef co-owns Ask Me Ifi Care with Geoff Howles and earned her sixth win of the year in 28 starts, good for $50,610 in bounty.
Lifetime, she had $259,340 on her card to go along with a lifetime mark of 1:51.2.
Despite her convincing win last week, Ask Me Ifi Care was sent the third choice in the wagering and paid $9.00 to win.
The $10,000 Open II Pace featuring a septet of mares went to Cult Icon, driven by Kevin Wallis. This five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight led at every pole, clocking fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.3 in holding off the determined late challenges of the pocket-sitting Come Get The Cash and the late-charging Casies Believer in 1:52.
The winning margin for Cult Icon was a neck over Come Get The Cash while Casies Believer, closing fastest of all, was three-quarter lengths off the winner at the wire. Northern Dali finished fourth while Western Stepp picked up the nickel in the field of seven.
Trained by Trent Stohler for the Trent Stohler Stable, the win was number six on the year for Cult Icon, sending her 2020 bounty to $56,570 and $272,332 lifetime. As the slight 2-1 favourite, Cult Icon paid $6.00 to win.
Also on Tuesday night, the racing program concluded with fireworks—tote-board fireworks—as the 14-1 shot Post Time Terror took the finale for Dave Ingraham, keying a 10-1-3-2-6 Super Hi-5 payoff of $16,803.94 for that 20 cent ducat. With the 73-1 outsider Singalongwithbing second and 16-1 chance Major Maid third, the trifecta paid $4,958.80.
Racing continues on Wednesday night (Dec. 16) with a $15,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 pool (12 percent takeout) as the pari-mutuel highlight. Post time is 7:20 p.m. (EST).
(Pompano Park)