A Weekend and Goldstar Raider were victorious in their respective divisions in the second leg of the Midnite Hardy Late Closer on Monday night at Pompano Park, while Zorgwijk Impact picked up a repeat win in the popular 'Over The Hill Gang' trot.
A Weekend started the week off with a tote-board bang, scoring at odds of 36-to-1 for driver Steve Condren, who was in the sulky for owner-trainer Percy Jones.
The seven-year-old altered son of I Am A Fool took advantage of a hot early pace while cosily-placed in third, pulled turning for home and rolled by the field to score in 1:53.4 and pin a defeat measuring 1-¼ lengths on St Pete Star (Tom Jackson) with Cascata (Dave Ingraham) rallying late to be third.
Mystical Valentine, locked up much of the mile, finished fourth while Bold Willie finished fifth in the sextet after cutting panels of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.1.
The win was the initial one of the season for A Weekend and 10th lifetime with the victory—his second biggest payday career-wise—sending his lifetime earnings to $46,075. Weekend paid $74.00 to win.
Goldstar Raider made his 100th lifetime start a winning one for owner-trainer-driver Tom Jackson.
This seven-year-old Florida bred son of Rock On used the rail to perfection as he left with alacrity, yielded briefly, retook command after an initial panel of :27.2 and led the rest of the way, clocking fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.3 before sprinting home unscathed in :28.3 to hit the wire a 2-½ length winner in 1:53.1. Beach Blast (Kevin Wallis) rallied to be second while A Fool For Mark (Dave Ingraham) finished third.
Goldstar Raider won for the 27th time in his career spanning a “century” in starts to send his career bounty to $158,203. Goldstar Raider paid $6.20 to win.
In the “Over The Hill Gang” trot for nine-year-olds and up, Zorgwijk Impact, handled this night by Wally Hennessey, scored a repeat victory as he easily took care of his foes by using the draw (post one) to perfection in the event.
This 11-year-old son of Armbro Ricochet, owned and trained by Jack Sheehan, scored the win measuring 2-¾ lengths over Illusionsndreams (Andy Santeramo) with Savthelstdancforme (Steve Condren) third.
Zorgwijk Impact was away alertly as Illusionsndreams blasted out of the gate from mid-track—post five—to take the field through an opening panel of :28.2. That’s exactly when Hennessey sent Zorgwijk Impact to the front to stay, posting subsequent panels of :57.4 and 1:26.3 before gliding home untouched in 1:56.3.
“I remember having driven this horse a season or two ago and he always showed me he had heart,” said Wally Hennessey. “He’s 11 now and still has that same heart. I don’t think he’s lost a step over the years. He’s the definition a racehorse—gives all he’s got.”
In making his 273rd lifetime start, Zorgwijk Impact won for the 44th time and sent his career bounty to $353,659. He paid $4.60 to win.
(Pompano Park)