Seeing Eye Single, driven by David Miller, rallied late to take top honours in Pompano Park's $14,200 Open Pace on Sunday night (Feb. 6).
The seven-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again, who had been knocking at the door over the past month, finally found the key to the winner's circle, using a :28.1 final quarter to hit the wire in 1:50.4. Rebellious (Wally Hennessey) who cut serious fractions of :27.1, :55 and 1:22.2 was a game second, a half length away, while Actor Hanover (Kevin Wallis), prominent in the garden spot throughout, finished third.
At the outset, Rebellious zipped off the wings with alacrity along with Actor Hanover and My House. Seeing Eye Single left a bit and searched for a spot closer to the pace this week — which he found in fourth. Heading into turn two, Seeing Eye Single was on the move again, going first-up and grinding forward on the backside to dent an official :27.2 third panel to reach second behind the leading Rebellious. Turning for home, it appeared that Seeing Eye Single lost a bit of ground around that final bend, but once he straightened for home, he put it in high gear to edge by in the final stages.
In a post-race interview, driver David Miller related, "You know all of us drivers have a strategy going in. Some work out and some don't. It's all split second out there. Tonight, after looking at all the lines, every week we were close but not close enough, so tonight, I decided to try and get a length or two closer to the front because we were only missing by that much in his recent races.
"That's exactly what happened tonight, because we were a length or two closer turning for home and we got there this time. That's about the long and the short of it!"
Trained by Devan Miller for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, Seeing Eye Single pushed his 2022 scorecard to 2-2-1 in six starts, good for $24,140. He's banked $550,372 lifetime to go along with 27 career wins and a Pompano Park mark of 1:49.3. Seeing Eye Single paid $3.20 to win.
The $12,600 Open II Pace went to Jet Rock, driven by Tyler Jones, in 1:50.4.
The altered six-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven justified his 3-2 favouritism with a strong backside brush to the lead and then holding off the late surging JMs Delight (Hennessey) by three-quarters of a length. Cinnamon Beach (Patrizio Ancora) was another nose back in third.
At the outset, Cinnamon Beach was sent flying off the wings and took the field to the opener in a hot :26.2 before yielding to Allunneedisfaith N, who roared to the half in 54.4. That's when Jet Rock took off and jetted to the third station in 1:22 while opening a comfortable lead, which he protected with :28.4 finale.
Trained by Jacques Dupont for Les Ecuries Dorleans, Inc., Jet Rock earned his initial win of the season — and the 21st of his career — to send his career earnings to $246,530.
The $11,000 Open III Pace went to Agedchedar Hanover, enjoying a dip in class and the rail to score in 1:51.2.
The six-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar got picture-perfect handling from John MacDonald, using a backside blitz from third into the lead with his :27 third panel brush and, once on top, was never in danger as his :28.2 final panel left Surfer Beach (Hennessey) 1-1/2 lengths away. Odds On Osiris (Peter Wrenn) was third. The win was the first of the season for Agedchedar Hanover and vaulted his lifetime earnings over the $150,000 plateau — precisely $154,974.
Trained by Jim McDonald for owner-wife Dona, Agedchader Hanover paid $5.00 to win.
Consisting of three favourites, a pair of 5-2 props and a 5-1 shot, the Pick-6 returned a handsome $3,844.65 for a 50-cent wager.
Racing continues on Monday (Feb. 7) with a $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 pool featuring a 12 per cent takeout and a Super Hi-5 finale with an appetizing carryover of $97,807.70. First post is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)