Drachan Hanover, handled by Wally Hennessey, captured the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park on Monday night, stopping the tele-timer in 1:50.3.
The four-year-old son of Jeremes Jet, trained by Marcel Barrieau for owners Lloyd Maclean and Kenneth Rankin, used Pompano Park's coveted five post to zip into an early lead before carding panels of :26.2 and :56 prior to wiring together subsequent quarters of :27.3 and :26.4 to score a one-length decision over Legal Spike (Richard Macomber, Jr.) with Sing For Me George (Kevin Wallis) third, 4 1/2 lengths away.
Duc Dorleans finished fourth while Mystic Desire picked up the minor award in the field of seven after a ground-saving journey.
In a post-race interview, driver Wally Hennessey remarked, "I thought he was well within himself last week in winning the open for three and four year-olds in 1:50.1.
"Tonight, I had to use him a bit leaving but when we got over to the half in :56, I was very confident that he could carry it all the way tonight.
"Again, he was well within himself tonight, as well, and his :26.4 final quarter was all on his own."
In garnering his fifth win of the year in 23 starts, Drachan Hanover pushed his seasonal earnings to $61,350. Lifetime, the soon-to-be five-year-old has 12 wins in 51 starts with $416,242 in bounty to go along with his 1:50.1 mark taken in his Pompano Park debut last week.
Off as the 2-5 favourite, Drachan Hanover returned $2.80 to his multitude of followers.
In the $10,000 Open 2 Pace, Whogoesfirst, handled by Wally Hennessey for the S & P Racing Stables and Luanne Case, took advantage of some hot early panels and rallied late to score in 1:52.3.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Cambest, dropping down a notch from the top class to the same class he whipped three starts back, used a :28.3 finale to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Ideal Fashion (Dave Ingraham) with Respectable Dream (Aaron Byron) next. Heart Felt, prominent for the first half mile, finished fourth while the pacesetting Uncmprmising Z Tam held on for the nickel in the septet.
It was Heart Felt away with alacrity and taking the field around the opening turn before yielding to Uncmprmising Z Tam (Ricky Macomber, Jr.) at the opener in a hot :27. Macomber kept his charge on top through a half in :55.1 before meeting up with Aloneinspades around the final turn and past the third station in 1:23.3.
Meanwhile, the field began ganging up on the leader as they straightened away and, fanning widest of all, Whogoesfirst began gnawing away, finally edging by inside the 16th pole.
The Luanna Case trainee won for the fourth time this year and 28th time career-wise, sending his lifetime bankroll to $451,478 -- $61,458 this semester.
As the 9-2 third choice in the tote-board, Whogoesfirst paid $11.20 to win.
Racing continues on Tuesday night with the headliner being the $12,000 Open Handicap Trot. In that event, Tater Twister looks to repeat with Serendipitious, God Savage, Diamond Dagger, Shes All In and Explosive Muscles all capable of pulling off an upset in a well-balanced field.
First race post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(with files from Pompano)