With much of the attention focusing on Godiva Seelster (3-5) and Wild Wanda (5-2), it was Pertty Music, handled to perfection by George Napolitano Jr., turning the tables in Pompano Park’s $11,500 Open Handicap Pace for mares on Wednesday night (February 22).
The seven-year-old daughter of Jeremes Jet, off as the fifth choice at 12-1 in her classy sextet of ladies, used a second-over journey to take command in deep stretch and then hold off the late-surging Goldstar Rockette, with John MacDonald in the bike, by a neck in a surprisingly quick 1:51.3. The time of the mile was a seasonal best effort for Pertty Music despite day long heavy rains that left the track sloppy and the judges giving a two second allowance.
Jets Are On, the longest proposition in the field at 48-1, closed fastest of all to be third, just a half-length away and a scant nose better than Godiva Seelster, who was fourth. Wild Wanda picked up the minor award.
At the outset, driver Wally Hennessey sent Godiva Seelster gunning for the lead and this daughter of Camluck took command at the opening panel in a sizzler--:26.1. Gweneeee J (Jim Meitinnis) then took over, but only briefly as Ricky Macomber Jr. sent Wild Wanda on the prowl and she poked her head in front just short of the half in a blazing :54.4.
On the backside with Wild Wanda on a clear lead, Godiva Seelster charged up to challenge, reaching the leader’s saddle-pad past the third station in 1:22.3 with Pertty Music catching the live cover of Godiva Seelster and Goldstar Rockette third-over.
In the lane, it was cavalry charge to the finish as the field spanned across the track in a furious battle to the line.
The photo finish camera revealed Pertty Music up in time between horses with Goldstar Rockette, last early on and surviving a couple of missteps past the opening panel, a late-surging second and Jets Are On next.
In a post-race conversation, winning driver George Napolitano Jr. said, “I know that this mare can go with these and the difference tonight was that we got a second-over trip, instead of first-over. We really got a great trip tonight and following Wally’s mare [Godiva Seelster] was a blessing.
“They were all right there together at the wire, so it could have gone any way. I was just the lucky one tonight.”
Owned by Souren Hovsepian along with trainer Rod Lorenzo, Pertty Music won for the third time in six starts this year, sending her 2017 earnings to $19,170.
Lifetime, Pertty Music has 28 wins in 121 starts, good for $354,083 to go along with her mark of 1:50.2 as a four-year-old at Pompano Park.
Pertty Music returned $27 to win, the highest payoff of her 12 wins at Pompano Park and the second highest win payoff of her 28 wins -- the highest being $41.60 at Hoosier Park on October 10, 2014.
Racing continues on Saturday night with post time set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)