Prairie Westerngal, skillfully handled by Braxten Boyd, found a seam along the pylons deep in the stretch and pinched on through to score a photo finish 1:51.4 win in Pompano Park's $14,200 Open Pace for mares on Wednesday night (Dec. 1).
In taking top honours in the feature, the hard-hitting, consistent five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal actually took a lifetime mark in the process, as her previous identical mark was achieved over the larger Hoosier Park oval.
The win came at the expense of Sweet Heaven (Wally Hennessey) and Image Of A Dream (Rick Plano), also in the photo finish picture with just a neck separating the top three. Bye Bye Felicia finished fourth in this septet while Brilliant Beauty earned the final award.
At the outset, Boyd sent Prairie Westerngal zipping off the wings with her usual alacrity to take charge, only to yield to the 1-5 favourite, Sweet Heaven, just short of the hot :27 opener with Image Of A Dream third.
Positions remained unchanged through a half in :56 with Sweet Heaven attempting to shake loose from her foes on the backside with a picked up :27.3 panel. She did stretch the lead to two lengths around the final bend but Prairie Westerngal found a short way home and pinched on through for the photo finish score. Image Of A Dream actually closed fastest of all and was just another head back in third.
Prairie Westerngal is trained by Mike Deters, who co-owns with Laurie Poulin and Fritz Racing.
"She [Prairie Westerngal] is just an honest-as-they-come mare that is blessed with gate speed and the ability to relax once she settles in," said Deters. "I'd say she's a patient mare and Brax [driver Braxten Boyd] gave her a patient drive so the two work well together."
The win was number nine in 34 starts and sent her 2021 scorecard to 9-10-5, vaulting her earnings to $95,546 this year and $239,499 lifetime. As the 4-1 second choice, she paid $10 to win.
The $12,600 Open II for mares went to Sea Shadows, handled by trainer Wally Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O'Neil.
The six-year-old daughter of Shadow Play, fifth in the early going, made a :26,4 backside blitz to take charge into the final bend and then went on to score a 5-1/2-length victory in a season's best 1:51.4. Abuelita Hanover (Rick Plano) was second while Sarahs Lilly (John MacDonald) was next. Indian Creek Kyla and Vicious Circle were next in the field of seven.
Sea Shadows won for the 30th time in her career and this seventh win this semester sent her bounty to $41,460 and $221,587 lifetime.
She paid $2.80 to win.
Devotees of the program handicapping column were rewarded handsomely on Tuesday night in the 50-cent Pick-4, $1 Pick-3 and $2 late daily double. The 2 x 2 x 1 x 3 Pick-4 ticket ($6) returned $926.40, the 2 x 1 x 3 Pick-3 ($6) paid $115.90 and the late daily double returned $121.40. In the finale of all three events, the top pick in the handicapping column, Hypnotic Racer, won at 27-1 odds and paid $56.20 to win, keying a Super Hi-5 payoff of $29,405.22 for the 20-cent ticket.
Racing continues on Sunday with a blockbuster 12-race pari-mutuel program featuring The Melvyn Aylor Stakes and three Open events for pacers. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)