All Charged Up, driven by John MacDonald, took home top honours in Pompano Park's $11,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares on Tuesday night (December 26), as she covered the distance in 1:53.3.
The six-year-old daughter of Ponder got picture-perfect handling while scoring the half-length decision over Northern Dali, who was catch-driven by Rick Plano. Wild Wands, who was making her seasonal debut at Pompano Park, finished a very fast-closing third, just a length off the winner.
Sues Night Out finished fourth while Galarina finished fifth in the field of eight.
At the outset, All Charged Up, who started from Post 7, left with alacrity and took command at the first quarter from Galarina (driven by Andy Santeramo) in :27.2 – but not for long. Just past that opening station, Galarina forged back to the front with All Charged Up on the helmet of the leader through subsequent fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.4.
At this stage, Galarina continued to show the way as pressure was being applied by Machin Marley on the outside with All Charged Up chilly along the pylons patiently awaiting for a seam and Wild Wands, who was last early, on a double-bubble binge which took her flying four wide and just a couple of lengths away.
Once they straightened away, All Charged Up did find that seam, charged up to take command from Galarina, and held off Northern Dali and Wild Wanda.
In a post-race interview, trainer-driver John MacDonald related, "she got another great trip tonight. When Ricky's (Macomber) mare (Wild Wanda, from Post 8) didn't leave, that helped my cause a lot because I knew I'd be seven or eight lengths up on her early – and that turned out to be the difference.
"My mare likes to race off the helmet anyhow and, once Andy (Santeramo) re-took, I got that helmet trip.
"All Charged Up has been through a lot since she was injured and had to go through several months of rehab to try and make it back to the track. Not only did she make it back, she's seems better than ever now."
Owned by J P Stables, All Charged Up won for the ninth time in 18 seasonal starts to push her 2017 earnings to $51,660.
The win also vaulted her career bankroll over the $275,000 plateau -- $275,082 to be precise.
As the lukewarm 8-5 favorite, All Charged Up paid $5.40 to her many faithful.
MacDonald also won three other events on the card giving him a grand slam on the Tuesday night card.
Major Master Piece ($3.80), Always A Tiger ($8.80) and Iced Out ($14.40) also reached the winner's circle for MacDonald, which sent his yearly win total to 306.
Pompano racing continues on Wednesday night and a special Thursday night card is also on the agenda.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 swelled over the $25,000 on Tuesday night--$25.082.20 to be precise.
Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)