Sweet Heaven, after a pair of tough photo finish losses in her last two starts, finally hit the Pompano Park winner's circle on Wednesday (Dec. 8) in the $14,200 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
The five-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou, trained by Keith Kamann for the J L Benson Stable, took charge a long stride or two before a :27 opener and went on to score a sharp 1:50.4 win off subsequent panels of :55.2 and 1:22.3.
Brilliant Beauty (Kevin Wallis), closing fastest of all, was second, 1-1/4 lengths away, while Prairie Westerngal (Braxten Boyd) was third. Image Of A Dream and Sea Shadows picked up the minor awards in the classy sextet.
At the outset, Prairie Westerngal, assigned the outside post, was in full throttle as was Sweet Heaven (post four), who found a spot right behind as the the train left the station. But Sweet Heaven was not content with the garden seat and charged to the front during the hot opener.
At this point, the 3-2 favourite, In Lou Of Money, made a quarter move in search of the lead but that backfired and she was hung out to dry like wet laundry and began to drop back three-eighths from the wire as Sweet Heaven was cruising through a :27.1 third panel to repel all threats.
Turning for home, Sweet Heaven owned a two-length lead, Prairie Westerngal had clear sailing and a ground-saving Brilliant Beauty was surging after finding a seam along the pylons. But Sweet Heaven was never threatened and was a hand-driven winner.
In a post race interview, driver John MacDonald said, "...She went a big mile tonight. She was very alert and she almost pulled herself out of the pocket early to take the lead. Once we straightened away on the backside, she was really in full flight right to the wire. She's very sharp!"
The win was the sixth of the year for Sweet Heaven in 27 starts and vaulted her earnings to $67,391. She's banked $180,363 lifetime to go along with her 1:49.4 mark at Hoosier Park achieved late this summer. She paid $6.80 to win as second choice.
The victory was a double for trainer Kamann as Abuelita Hanover won the $12,600 Open II Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
This five-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was a handy winner for Rick Plano, scoring by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:52.2 over Roll With Angel (Ken Holliday) with Protect Blue Chip (Wally Hennessey) third. Indian Creek Kyla and Misty Memory N rounded out the top five in the field of seven.
This was the fifth win of the year for Abuelita Hanover, sending her bounty for the year to $40,395. She's also owned by the J L Benson Stables in partnership with Edward Lynskey.
Off at 8-5, Abuelita Hanover paid $5.40 to her multitude of faithful.
Racing continues Sunday with a blockbuster 12-race program scheduled to begin at 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)