There were of course the usual accolades for the horse he prevailed with in the top weekly trot at Pompano Park. Driver Wally Hennessey also made it a point to talk up an otherwise overlooked group in his live, post-race
trackside TV interview on Wednesday night.
"You're seeing this top weekly trot race going in the 1:54 range and lots of horses taking life's marks and I think it's time we give some credit to the track crew here," Hennessey said. "I've been here over 20 years and just in the last two years the track surface has been consistenly excellent like I've never seen it before," he added.
In the $14,000 purse event for the winners over $10,000 lifetime trot on the February 9 program, Hennessey moved Lord Burghley to the front just past the quarter of :27.3. The 10-yea-old Armbro Invasion-Lady Of Substance gelding cruised to the half in :57.1 and to the final turn in 1:25.3. Andover America emerged from a second over trip worked out by Bruce Ranger but he could not get close to Lord Burghley when the wire arrived in 1:54.1. P C Moonshine, in rein to George Napolitano Jr, enjoyed a pocket trip and was third best.
In recent years, the industry's well known track design and maintenance firm of Chuck and Dan Coon were retained for the Pompano racing strip. Handling the day by day duties at the South Florida venue is Wayne Byus.
"They've got it perfect like a billiard table out here and it looks to me they're putting more water to it than before," Hennessey added. "My horse tonight was really handy and [owner-trainer] Tracy Brainard has him right on his game so I could drive him almost any way I wanted. When you have a perfect track like this, 70 and 80 degree temperatures, no wind, and add in some aggressive new guys to the driving line-up here it all adds up to lots of horses taking life's marks," he said.
Other Wednesday evening winners stepping up for life's marks were trotters Master Solutions (1:55.4) and Petty Hanover (1:55.1) along with pacers Sterling Chris (1:53.2) and Bond Blue Chip (1:55.1). First time starter Waldy Jimmy, a three-year-old Yankee Cam-Shannon Deja Vu gelding, set the tone for the night by winning the first race in 1:55.3 for owner-trainer Ron MacArthur and driver Jason Dillander. Trainer-driver Lormer McClure of Orangeville, Ont. scored his first win of the meet in his fifth start as his trotter Southwind Vavoom swept to victory in 1:55.4.
Next Monday evening's program will have a Valentine's Day theme at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.
The tentative plan on February 14 calls for two races to be carded with many of North America's foremost female drivers taking to the track. Confirmed for the event are Ann-Karin Larsen, Jamie Rucker, Gro Formia, Ann Schlictig, Anita Valstad, Doreen Dailey, Brooke Nickells, Kelly Case, Laurie Lee Poulin, Diane Long and Diane Hellen.
(Pompano Park)