OK Heavenly, cleverly driven by Kevin Wallis, pulled off an upset at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (February 8), taking top honours in the $11,000 Open Pace for mares in 1:51.3.
The five-year-old daughter of Sportswriter spoiled the 2017 debut of Godiva Seelster, handled by Wally Hennessey, edging by that grand mare in deep stretch to score by a half-length. New arrival Gweneeee J, with Jim Meittinis in the bike, closed fastest of all to finish third, a length away, with the pacesetting Wild Wanda fourth. Goldstar Rockette, also making her seasonal debut, was a late-charging fifth, just two lengths off the winner, in the classy sextet of ladies.
At the outset, four of the six mares were on the engine leaving with Goldstar Rockette (post one) yielding to Single Me (post three), who, in turn yielded to Wild Wanda (post 5), who then gave way to Godiva Seelster (post six), but not for long.
After a sharp :26.2 opener, Wild Wanda reclaimed the top spot and took the field half way home in :55.1.
On the backside, Wild Wanda was on a mission of her own, pacing her third panel in :27.1 to reach the third station in 1:22.2 with Godiva Seelster ready to pop from the pocket and OK Heavenly suddenly rolling up into contention.
Godiva Seelster then took command once they straightened away with OK Heavenly rolling up alongside a sixteenth from home and then on to the victory -- her third of the year in six starts.
In a post-race interview, driver Kevin Wallis remarked, “This mare does have gate speed but there seemed to be a few others that had their site set on being close up so I really had no choice but to take her back.
“The pace was pretty stiff early, so I was very content to sit tight until the backside.
“I asked her at the start pole [three-eighths out] and she started grinding away, although it’s tough to make much progress on a :27.1 quarter. She just kept grinding away until she got to the wire.”
OK Heavenly now has banked $20,680 in this young season and $181,445 career-wise. She is trained by Angela Coleman for owners Dandy Farms Inc. and Mark Winship.
As the 8-1 fourth choice, OK Heavenly paid $18.60 to win.
The $9,000 Open 2 Pace for mares went to Arodasi, driven by George Napolitano Jr.
The classy eight-year-old daughter of Western Terror stormed from eighth after the opening :27.1 quarter and paced her final three-quarters in 1:24.4 to score by one and one-quarter lengths over the pacesetting Southwind Trini (Wally Hennessey). Astarisontheway, looming boldly in the lane, finished third, two lengths away. Jets Are On finished fourth after being prominent much of the mile while Dreas Good Powow was fifth in the field of nine.
Trained by Joe Pavia Jr. for Peter Shank, the AGC Stables and the Joe Pavia Jr. Stable, Arodasi earned her initial win of the season and 32nd lifetime, pushing her career bounty to $386,546.
As the 9-2 fourth choice, Arodasi paid $11.20 to win.
Racing continues on Saturday night with a Pick-5 carryover of $6,644 and a $20,000 guaranteed pool. There is also a Pick-6 carryover of over $4,575. The Pick-5 cover races one through five while the Pick-6 covers races three through eight. The "icing on the cake" is the $65,035 carryover in Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 finale, conducted on the eighth race. Post time for the “better for the bettor” Saturday program is 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)