Small Bills returned handsome dividends to both his owner and those who plunked $2 on his nose in the $19,150 final of the Tweedle Dum Late Closer at Pompano Park on Sunday night.
The five-year-old son of Cash Hall, owned and trained by Dennis Whittemore and driven by his son Jimmy, conquered a solid field and a broken head pole to score in a lifetime-best clocking of 1:55, returning the lion's share of the purse to, of course, his owner and $46 to his followers at the wagering windows.
Small Bills' winning margin was one and a half lengths over the 3-5 toteboard favoruite, ER Mr T, who was handled by Simon Allard. Increditable and Rick Plano closed fastest of all in the field to garner third while Merited Victory and Celebrity Legacy earned the final awards in the field of seven.
Small Bills won for the seventh time this year in 39 starts and this biggest of paydays sent his seasonal bounty to $33,009 and a shade over $120,000 lifetime.
In a post race interview, driver Whittemore said, "You know, he didn't race all that bad in the first two legs. Last week we got shuffled a bit, but he was trotting strong to the wire, and the week before, he trotted his final half around :57. I kinda thought that they'd be going some going for $19,000 so I thought I had a decent chance from the rail if I could stay out of trouble.
"That head pole flapping didn't seem to bother him...he kept his mind on the business at hand and those hot fractions helped. When I tipped him, he trotted his usual strong final quarter but was helped as that hot speed came back to the field a bit. He'd never been in [1]:55 before so that was something!"
The 22-1 win not only keyed a $4,456.60 trifecta, but played a huge roll in creating two carryovers for Monday's 7:05 p.m. program, including a healthy $4,631 carryover the the Pick 4. Director of Racing John Yinger sees a Monday night pool in excess of $10,000.
In the $10,000 Open Pace for fillies and mares Wildfire Osborne, driven by John Cummings Jr., swept past the entire field to score a sharp 1:52.4 win for her 35th lifetime victory (eighth this year).
The seven-year-old long striding daughter of On The Attack, also owned and trained by Cummings, used different tactics this time around to score by one and a quarter lengths over the late-charging Woman Of Terror (Ed Hensley). Favourite De Vins Girl (Rick Plano) was shuffled a bit on the backside bit closed stoutly late to get third while Southwind Trini and Oceans Motion finished next in the septet.
After the race, Cummings said, "You know, I put her on the lead in her last two and those miles were just a bit too fast for her to last. Tonight, I didn't have much of a choice with the outside post and the others leaving inside. This post might just have been a blessing...forcing me to take back. She sure is a long striding mare!"
Also on the card, the first leg of the Chucaro Ajihuna Late Closer was held in two divisions and Surclasser and Mr Party Man emerged victorious.
Surclasser, handled by Jason Dillander, stormed from dead last turning for home, and on the strength of a :28.4 finale, scored by one and a half lengths over Frenchmen (Simon Allard) with Soxys Kid (Ed Hensley) third in the field of six. Libra Vita and Dreamnwillie were next while the 4-5 choice, Up Tempo, never fired this night and finished last.
Owned by Casandra and Rebecca Uppal going into the event, Surclasser won for the 31st time in his career and was promptly claimed by the J P House Stables.
A similar situation occurred in the second division as Mr Party Man, driven by Tom Sells, made a sharp quarter move to the top and led the rest of the way to score a narrow decision of the pair of "heaters" -- Ulay Boko (Rick Plano) and Bank President (Simon Allard). Bars Gold Medal and JJ Rock finished next in the six-horse field.
Timed in 1:57.3, Mr Party Man won for the very first time this year for owners Laurie Poulin and Mike Deters and was claimed by Simon Allard.
Finally, the Florida Amateur Driving Club, that have donated over $125,000 to charitable causes since their inception, made yet another on Sunday night, this one to the Peaceful Ridge Rescue Mission, an organization that has saved countless horses from neglect, abuse and slaughter.
(Pompano Park)