Hollywood Sign A, who was given a very heady drive by Matt Krueger, earned the marquee headline at Pompano Park on Sunday night (March 18), as he nailed the wire in 1:51.2 in the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leading from first long stride to that long final one, the nine-year-old Aussie-bred Life Sign gelding held off the courageous effort by Dees Rocketman, handled by Andy Santeramo, to score by three parts of a length.
The Onlyest One, with John MacDonald in his sulky, finished third after a garden journey. Drachan Hanover finished fourth while Kotare Yael finished fifth.
With the advantageous Post 5, Hollywood Sign A pushed the wings out of his way at the start and zipped through an opening panel of :26.4 with The Onlyest One next and Drachan Hanover third. Meanwhile, Dees Rocketman had no choice but to let the chips fall where they may while the war was going on up front.
But, there was no war during the second quarter, as Krueger guided his charge through the second panel in :30.2 and reached the half in :57.1.
Thinking of thwarting any challenges on the backside, Krueger sent Hollywood Sign A on his second :26.4 binge and reached the third station in 1:24. While this was going on, Santeramo had Dees Rocketman in high gear, as well, as Dees Rocketman went on a :26 binge of his own and just a tad more than a length away around the final bend. In the lane, the duo duked it out through a :27.2 finale, and Hollywood Sign A did not give a single inch during the drive home.
After the race, Krueger lamented, “‘Hollywood’ (Sign A) has raced well every start here and tonight was no exception. As you saw, he can fly off the wings and that second quarter was a big help with nobody making a move on him. I gave him a tap on the backside (backstretch) and he went into another gear. It's tough to gain on a :54.1 final half, but Andy's (Santeramo) horse (Dees Rocketman) must've come his last half in :53 and a piece, so the post positions made a big difference here."
For Hollywood Sign A, it was his second win in 10 starts this year, good for $28,485 so far this young season. Lifetime, he's banked $228,193 for Krueger, who owns and trains the winner, as well.
Off as the fourth choice in this evenly matched field, Hollywood Sign A paid $10.40.
American Hustle and driver Bryce Fenn captured the $13,200 Open II Pace in 1:51.2.
Also of note, when Andy Santeramo piloted Team Captain to a photo finish win in Sunday's fifth race in 1:52.3, it triggered a 50-cent Pick-5 payoff of $10,156.55 to the one lucky player who had the correct 1-2-1-1-5 combo. It followed a fourth-race 20-cent pentafecta payoff of $7,611.42 after Ron Cusimano guided Extracurricular to a handy win in Florida Amateur Driving Club competition.
Monday's program will showcase the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares featuring Ubettorbeturlife (2-1) and All Charged Up (8-5) and Galarina (9-2), among others. The $18,000 Pop-Up Final has also been carded as Race 9 and will feature Surge Seelster (7-5) and Arsenal (7-2) in the one and a quarter-mile marathon.
In the ‘better for the bettor’ department, the Super Hi-5 carryover of $34,554.82 will be featured in the 10th race finale.
(With files from Pompano Park)