The weekly edition of the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park turned to the gate on the mid-week card with Scorpion Moon sent off as the favourite after last week's impressive tally in 1:54. This week, however, Jaavos Boy turned the tables on Scorpion Moon
to convert a pocket trip to victory with Keystone Thomas, in rein to Bruce Ranger, following in for the place position. The tempo-setting Scorpion Moon, driven by Joe Pavia Jr., had to settle for third.
On February 8, Jaavos Boy battled twice with Scorpion Moon, but could never make the lead. This time out, David Ingraham plugged Jaavos Boy smartly into the pocket in the opening eighth and he stayed there through the fractions of :27.3, :56.4, and 1:25.2. Turning for home, Jaavos Boy vacated his cozy trip position to brush by and freeze the clock in 1:54.2 for his 23rd career win. Barry Probber trains the six-year-old S Js Photo-Hayworth Hanover gelding for the Probber-Morse Stable of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The trotter's lifetime earnings now stand at $253,923.
The major upset of the mid-week program was executed by trainer-driver Gaston Lareau, as he kept LM Dash For Cash well back of a fast tempo in the $6,000 claiming set by Foreign Soil, in rein to Wally Hennessey. The four-year-old Million Dollar Cam-Tenteen pacer was changed from a kan't-see-back to a blind bridle and dropped from the $7,500 price tag level for this test, and he easily cruised by Foreign Soil in the stretch to earn a life's mark of 1:54.4 for owner Mandy Lareau of Pompano Beach, Florida. L M Dash For Cash was off at 28-1 to return $59.60 for a $2 win ticket and lead to yet another big payout in the track's popular Pick-4 wager of more than $2,600.
Hennessey's Quest For 8,000 Must Wait Until Saturday
As is often the case when a major milestone is imminent, it was an exasperating night of close calls for Hall Of Fame driver Wally Hennessey.
Hennessey did move up his career win total to 7,999 with claiming trotter Like A Gator and a tally in the final race on the card with $7,500 Codys Honor. Hennessey had several other near misses on the program as he chased the milestone. He lead late into the stretch with claiming pacer Foreign Soil only to be caught in the closing strides by a longshot rival, L M Dash For Cash. In the $5,000 claiming pace, he brought four-year-old mare Youtorturemefern up to the leader in the stretch, but had to settle for a close third place finish. Hennessey was even closer with claiming trotter VTs Gold Key, who lost an agonizing photo finish decision to a hard-closing Prince Rocco, driven by David Ingraham.
When racing resumes at Pompano on Saturday, February 18, Hennessey has six drives scheduled and a single win needed to become the 21st driver to reach 8,000 lifetime wins in the sport's recorded history.
(Pompano Park)