On Sunday evening (March 1) at Pompano Park, reinsman Wally Hennessey captured the ‘Masters of the Mile’ title by besting seven of the greatest drivers in harness racing history.
In the four-race competition, which featured points structured similarly to purse structure payments, Hennessey scored 113 points to edge out Bruce Ranger (79), David Miller (68), Tony Morgan (60), Peter Wrenn (41), Tim Tetrick (26), Dave Palone (22) and Kevin Wallis (19).
Hennessey opened the competition by winning the first half of the early Daily Double, as he guided five-year-old Pet Rock horse Oberlin to an 11-1 win in 1:54.1.
After starting from the outside eight post, Hennessey found little choice but to take back at the start and was 10 lengths back as Too Much Duncan (who was driven by Peter Wrenn) took the field to the opener in :27. Shortly thereafter, Miller sent Danze to the top and tripped the timer at the half in :55.3. On the backside, Palone brushed Hugh Hefner to the front, who took the field through the third station in 1:24.2 (Hennessey's charge was in sixth, four lengths off the top at that point). Once they straightened away, Oberlin got in high gear and rolled on by. He held off R Gauwitz Hanover (Morgan) and posted a half-length victory in 1:54.2. Too Much Duncan finished third over Danza and Hugh Hefner.
Oberlin, who is trained by Gaston Lareau for owner Richard Lareau, paid $24.20 to win.
In the second leg, Hennessey scored his second win, as he guided Marianne Ayers-McNichol's Rockntouch to a gate-to-wire win. The fractions were cut in :27, :56 and 1:24.2 before touching the wire in 1:53.1.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven repelled serious bids around the final bend and through the lane to score by a half length over Itsnoproblemman (Ranger). Byby Landon (Tetrick) finished another neck back in third. Stick With Cramer and Harry Terror were next in the octet.
Sent off at even money on the tote board, Rock N Touch paid $4.20 to win and pushed his lifetime bounty over the $280,000 mark with this win, which was the 38th of his career.
In the third leg, Bruce Ranger had Always Glorious in high gear from the get-go. The pair clocked cut the fractions in :26.2, :53.2 and 1:21.3. The duo had a double-digit lead turning for home and coasted to a 1:52 win over the late-charging Keystone Steam (Morgan) and V Power (Wallis). Classic Gent and Fritzie Pic Up Man rounded out the top five.
Trained by Rick Plano for owners Maryann Plano and Ernest Durse, Always Glorious, a five-year-old altered son of Always A Virgin, scored by eight and three-quarter lengths and paid $7.20 to win.
Pompano Park Director of Racing Stacy Cahill and Race Secretary Joe Zambito congratulate Wally Hennessey on his triumphant night in the Masters of the Mile competition.
Heading in to the finale, the competition for the top prize was whittled down to three, as only Hennessey, Ranger and Morgan were in the hunt for the Masters of the Mile title.
In a race that saw several lead changes throughout the mile journey, it was the David Miller-driven Outkast Blue Chip who rallied in deep stretch to score a one and a half-length win over Rocknbeach (Wrenn). Hennessey finished third with Pointsman to seal the crown. Brigadier Bronski finished fourth and Gibbs fifth.
Trained by Jake Huff for the Beauty Bridle Racing Stable, Outkast Blue Chip paid $19.80 as the fourth choice and vaulted over the $250,000 plateau in lifetime bounty.
Though the Masters of the Mile had completed, the action was far from over. Ranger then hooked up with track record holder Panocchio and put on an exceptionally game performance. The pair squeaked by the favoured American Hustle (Bruce Fenn) in 1:52.1.
Away third from the rail as American Hustle put up numbers of :27.1 and :56.1, Ranger sent the 10-year-old Panocchio on a backstretch binge. The duo clocked a :27.2 third panel and were up by a head at the third-quarter call in 1:23.4.
Then it was war all the way home, as the duo traded punches right to the wire, but when it was all said and done, it was Panocchio that earned the nod by a neck. Caviart Reagan, who had closed fastest of all, finished third for Dave Ingraham, followed by Neptune and Windsun Gotham.
Trained by Jim Mattison, who co-owns with his wife, Vicki, and Emile Johnson, Panocchio earned his 70th career win to send his lifetime earnings to $638,538. He paid $11.20 to win.
Hennessey then completed his night by winning both ends of the late Daily Double, as he scored with Rub Of The Green in 1:51.4 and Bass Player in 1:52.3, which completed his grand slam.
Pompano racing continues on Monday with a Race 4 pentafecta carryover of $6,337.60, a Pick-6 carryover of $1,255.56, and a Super Hi-5 jackpot that has ballooned to $44,948.86.
Post time for the card is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)