Aracache Hanover was the first millionaire pacer to appear in the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Pace since Big Bad John eight weeks ago when the March 10 edition turned to the starting gate at Pompano Park
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Although he gave a robust effort from the front end after an assigned Post 8 outside start, Aracache Hanover was caught in the closing strides and had to settle for the runner-up position in his 2012 racing debut.
Bruce Ranger had Aracache Hanover sailing through fractions of :26.3, :55.4, and 1:24.2, and finally put away the first over move of Drive All Night, in rein to Anthony Napolitano, by mid-stretch. Lurking in the pocket the whole mile was Forty Carrots, and when just enough open road could be negotiated by driver Wally Hennessey at the edge of the toteboard, Forty Carrots responded with a powerful brush just like last week to take down the top prize. Ricks Sign, with Fern Paquet Jr., came through traffic to earn the show position.
Forty Carrots has suddenly developed a big reputation for a lethal late brush in South Florida. The Riverboat King-Mathamomics five-year-old pacer has now won half of his 10 starts this year to increase his lifetime bankroll to $226,570. Forty Carrots races at Pompano from the Kim and Jay Sears stable for owners Richard Clair of Stafford, Virginia and Lance Gordon of Clinton, New York.
In the Open-II Pace for an $8,500 purse, Appley Ever After followed up a 1:51 life's mark of last week in a $10,000 claimer to repeat on the class rise to score in 1:51.2. Anthony Napolitano was in the bike to guide the five-year-old Allamerican Ingot-Sandy Apple gelding to the front end tally over the pocket-sitting Red Star Paylater, with Dan Clements in tow, and Hay Goodlooking, driven by Rick Plano. Mike Watson co-owns and trains Appley Ever After, with Richard Noel of Livonia, Michigan holding the other ownership share.
It was another Mike Watson trained starter, Spartan Justice, that won the $7,300 purse Open III Pace in a life's mark of 1:51.2 with Dan Clements in the bike for owner Michael Kallen of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
In the $12,000 purse Mares Open Handicap Pace, Best Around survived a :54 opening half to win again in 1:51.1 with Jason Dillander in the bike. Paul Holzman trains Best Around for Joel Benson Stables of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Bryans Ideal, driven by Dan Clements, was second and Nillabomb, partnered by Wally Hennessey, was third.
Although he drove in all but of a pair of the 10 races on Saturday night, Joe Pavia Jr. did not find the winner's circle. He remains three wins away from the 5,000 lifetime driving win milestone. Pavia is slated for four drives on the Monday evening, March 12 program.
When racing resumes on Monday evening, March 12, it's the start of the two night Sunshine Pro-Am Challenge at the South Florida venue. Pompano drivers Bruce Ranger, Wally Hennessey, John Campagnuolo and Jamie Marra will be pitted against Cal-Expo reinsman Luke Plano, Rick Bertrand, Steve Wiseman and Dave Siegel for three races each night. Individual and team prizes will be awarded from the two night competition covering six races. The trio of Pro-Am races will kick off the Pick-4 wager on the two programs and will be followed by a pair of Driving Legends Races, with the lifetime win totals for the 10 reinsman involved coming in at more than 64,000. Pompano's weeknight Pick-4 is part of the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program with a $5,000 guaranteed pool. Free past performances, along with free handicapping and blogs for the two programs are being made available for this special occasion by www.trackmaster.com.
(Pompano Park)