Rebellious, handled by Wally Hennessey and leaving from the outside post seven, out-muscled a trio of foes during a hot :26.3 opener and continued on top the rest of the way to win the $13,500 Open II Handicap Pace at Pompano Park on Sunday night (March 13).
The brave eight-year-old warrior son of Mach Three earned his third win of the season -- this one in 1:51.2 -- to score by a half-length over a game Seeing Eye Single (David Miller), using a :27.3 finale to secure the win. Actor Hanover (Kevin Wallis), prominent in the garden spot all the way, was third while My House, actually closing fastest of all, finished fourth. Maxdaddy Blue Chip picked up the nickel.
As the wings folded, Actor Hanover, My House and Maxdaddy Blue Chip were all seeking the top spot at the get-go with Rebellious wending his way forward letting the dust settle during the early tussle.
Once Actor Hanover made the top, Hennessey brushed Rebellious to the lead and proceeded through a half-mile in :55.4.
That's where Seeing Eye Single was out and driving from fifth and, with a strong :27.3 backside brush of his own, reached second as Rebellious tripped the timer at the third station in 1:23.4 with Actor Hanover remaining chilly in the pocket.
Turning for home, Seeing Eye Single kept gnawing away but Rebellious had a :27.3 sprint home to seal the deal on the wire.
"He (Rebellious) was really sharp tonight," said Hennessey after the race. "He kind of likes to join the fray from the get-go, you know, but he's really tenacious once he gets to the front. He was on his own the whole way...and this was a very talented group he faced tonight. It was a very good performance and a tribute to Mike (trainer Deters) who keeps him in such great shape week after week. He might not win every week...but he sure gives his all!"
Rebellious improved his seasonal score card to 3-2-1 in seven starts sent his earnings to $28,762. Lifetime, he has won 58 races and $466,467.
As the second choice at 7-5 on the toteboard (Seeing Eye Single was also 7-5), Rebellious paid $4.80 to win.
The $12,600 Open II (non-handicap) Pace went to Real Peace, driven by David Miller.
This seven-year-old altered son of Real Desire, trained by Devan Miller for Burke Racing and Wesver Bruscemi, scored in 1:50.4 -- the fastest mile of the night -- and used a :27.3 finale to stretch his lead to near three lengths at the wire over Double Metal (Hennessey) with JMs Delight (Rick Plano) third. Agedchedar Hanover, last throughout much of the mile, closed with a :27 flurry to finish fourth while Art Nukem picked up the minor award in the octet.
Real Peace won for the second time this semester to send his earnings for the young season to $24,776. He's won 31 times in his career with this win vaulting his lifetime bankroll to $317,777.
As the 6-5 favourite, Real Peace paid $4.40 to win.
Three Amateur Races On Undercard
Billy Muggleston, Joe Pennacchio and Steve Oldford took top honours in Sunday's trio of events as the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) continued showcasing their charitable efforts on behalf of harness racing.
In recent weeks, the FADC went over the $240,000 mark in charitable donations based on the generosity of their membership donating all driving earnings in their events to the club for distribution to organizations -- most recently to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Tomorrow's Rainbow, the CHHA and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation.
Sunday's festivities began as Billy Muggleston, longtime helicopter pilot for the great Herve Filion, guided his own For A Dreamer to a sharp 1:56.3 win. The seven-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall, trained by Allen Saul, sprinted to the top after the opening quarter and opened up daylight the rest of the way in scoring by a length over Everyones Talkin (Ron Cusimano) with The Big Muscle (Tom Eichas) third. No Wine For You was fourth while Muay Hanover picked up a minor award in the field of seven.
The win was number 21 for For A Dreamer and sent his lifetime earnings over the $260,000 plateau. For Muggleston, it was his 98th career victory.
Pennacchio gave his own stable's Keystone Blade very crafty handling in scoring a one-length victory with his nine-year-old altered son of Yankee Glide in 1:58.1. Steel Reserve (Don Cromer), the longest shot on the board at 57-1, was second while A Royal Line (Steve Oldford) finished third. Lucky Sevens and Ricky Be Sharp were next in the field of nine.
Going right to the from off the wings, Keystone Blade refused to let Noble Legend (Devan Miller) by in the early stages, clocking :28.2 and :57 at the first two stations. On the backside, Steel Reserve began his sprint and reached second around the final bend that gave Pennacchio's charge a :31.2 backstretch breather. Keystone Blade and Steel Reserve briefly raced a team but Keystone Blade had something left in a :29.4 finale and edged away late to score his 30th career win to push his lifetime earnings to $225,670. For Pennacchio, it was his 207th career win.
Off at 11-1, Keystone Blade paid $24.60 to win keying a 3-8-1 $2 trifecta payoff of $9,360.80 and a 20-cent pentafecta ticket worth $7,632.92.
Oldford then guided his Oldford Racing stable's Sumbodygetdisfool to a game photo finish win in 1:58.4 over Magic Bob (Dennis Whittemore) with Better Call Saul (Tony Dinges) third. Ongoing Destiny finished fourth while Watkins was next.
In a determined effort to wire his foes, Oldford sent his charge right to the front from his rail post and held Golden Wheel at bay through panels of :28.4, :57.2 and 1:27.3 with Magic Bob in the garden spot cozily in third. In the lane, Sumbodygetdisfool drifted out a lane or two allowing Magic Bob to take the short route, taking a whisker lead at the 16th pole. But Oldford's horse kept gnawing back and put his nose up at the wire.
Sumbodygetdisfool is a four-year-gelded son of Armbro Approach trained by Maurice Goldschmidt Jr. A nine-race winner last year, Sumbodygetdisfool earned his second win of the season with his earnings climbing to $95,121 lifetime. He paid $6.20 as the favourite. Oldford now has 192 lifetime wins.
Racing continues on Monday night with trotters in the spotlight as yet another million-dollar field goes to the gate. Sooo Handsome tries for milestone 50th career win but will have to overcome some stiff competition in the form of the 14-year-old ageless warrior Cantab Lindy, the always prominent The Lionking AS, Four Wheelin, Max, Keystone Apache and Timon AS.
The track is also preparing for the World Class Drivers Challenge on Tuesday and Wednesday as Yannick Gingras, Dexter Dunn, Andrew McCarthy and James MacDonald tackle four legends from Pompano Park, Wally Hennessey, David Miller, Kevin Wallis and Peter Wrenn, in a eight-race competition.
The Pick-4 with a $15,000 guaranteed pool bolstered by an industry low 12 per cent takeout remains in tact and the Super Hi-5 finale now has a carryover jackpot of close to $55,000.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)