Wild Wanda, with Ricky Macomber Jr. in the bike, won a wild finish in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday night, holding off Pertty Music (George Napolitano Jr.) by a scant head in 1:52.1.
Jets Are On (Wally Hennessey), closed fastest of all in the race -- :27.2 -- to finish third just a half-length away after being last much of the mile. OK Heavenly finished fourth, one and one-quarter lengths away while Metro Glide finished a late-charging fifth, just two lengths back in the tightly knitted field of six.
At the outset, it was a wild scramble for supremacy as Wild Wanda out-duelled Yes You Can before yielding to Pertty Music just a few strides past the :27.1 opener.
Around turn two, Macomber pulled on his mare’s right line and she was quickly up to regain control past the half in :56.
The pace quickened on the backside with Wild Wanda pacing her third quarter in :27.3 to reach the third station in 1:23.3 with Pertty Music now edging a closer second and Yes You Can two lengths further back.
In the lane, Wild Wanda was put to the test as Pertty Music began gnawing away with Jets Are On finally finding her way off the pylons and sweeping up on the outside.
In that aforementioned wild finish, Wild Wanda found the wire first with Pertty Music just a head away.
After the event, driver Ricky Macomber Jr. remarked, “I was a little worried when we hit the final turn because, last week, she really didn’t finish her mile like she usually does and the three-quarters was in that same time -- 1:23.3.
“This week, she dug in a little better and held off George [Napolitano]'s mare [Pertty Music]. They both raced well and Wally’s mare [Jets Are On] came flying, too.”
Trained by Jamie Macomber for Mary Jo Rheinheimer and the Dojea Stables, the six-year-old daughter of Palone Ranger won for the 25th time during her career, sending her lifetime bounty to $335,995 -- $11,880 in her three starts so far in 2017.
As the slight favourite at 6-5 on the toteboard, Wild Wanda returned a $4.60 mutuel to her faithful.
Racing continues on Saturday night with a memorial event honouring the late, great horseman, Frank O’Mara. O’Mara recently passed away at the age of 84 after a grand career that included such stars as Nite Shirt, Timelys Best Man, Keystone Accent and Mystic Park. The O’Mara Memorial is carded as the second race on the Saturday night program.
(With files from Pompano Park)