On a chilly Monday evening (March 21) in south Florida, Verlin Yoder's Natural Herbie overcame a second-tier post and a somewhat lackluster beginning to score a narrow victory in Pompano Park's $16,500 Open Handicap Trot.
The six-year-old son of Here Comes Herbie came from ‘out of the clouds’ halfway through the mile to pin a photo-finish defeat (by a head) over Wind Of The North, handled by Wally Hennessey, in 1:55.2.
Pocket Trip was third for Fern Paquet Jr., one and three-quarter lengths away and a nose better than Midnight Craze, who was fourth. Diamond Dagger finished fifth in the field of 10.
As the Hummer starting gate left the station, Chinese Cuisine (driven by Ricky Macomber Jr. from Post 2) was on the engine along with Shes All In (Rick Plano, PP8) with Wind Of The North also on the prowl from the outside Post 9.
By the time they reached the opening station in :27.3, Wind Of The North stuck his nose in front with Shes All In ready to yield with Chinese Cuisine next, followed by Buddy Hally and Midnite Craze.
Meanwhile, Natural Herbie, was dawdling back in eighth at this point, spotting the field some nine lengths and giving up an additional length or so as Wind Of The North reached the half in a seemingly manageable :56.1
On the backside, Ivan Davies' Midnite Craze was brushing strongly and a battle quickly developed between these two with ‘Craze’ actually pushing by Wind Of The North – but not clearing – past three-quarters in 1:25.1
At that station, Pocket Trip had improved from sixth to third with Natural Herbie following some live cover provided by Diamond Dagger and seventh, about five lengths off the lead.
As Wind Of The North put away the challenge of Midnite Craze in the lane, it looked as though he was home free, but on came Natural Herbie. He closed fastest of all to nail the win in the final stride.
After the event, the soft-spoken owner, trainer, driver Verlin Yoder said, "Really, I didn't think I drove him so good. The second-tier post didn't help, but I thought I could follow the two horse (Chinese Cuisine) out and get a better position than what I got.
"I was a little worried early on because you can't spot these good horses so many lengths and expect to win.
"I was out on the backside, no problem there, but still had a lot of ground to make up. He (Natural Herbie) was motoring pretty good down the lane and the cool night probably had a little something to do with the finish as Wally's (Hennessey) horse (Wind Of The North) was used leaving and then again on the backside when Ivan's (Davies) horse (Midnite Craze) took it to him.
"He finished strong and he raced much better than I drove him!"
For Natural Herbie, it was his initial win in three starts this season and 28th win lifetime in 69 career starts.
He now has earnings of $916,431 to go along with his four year-old mark of 1:51.4.
Natural Herbie paid his faithful $5.80 as the second choice in the wagering.
On the ‘Wallis-Wally’ watch, Kevin Wallis won one race on Monday night, pushing his lifetime win total to within 17 of 10,000, while Hennessey's singular win nudged him 16 of 9,000, not including his overseas wins.
Also, driver Joe Sanzeri, out of action for two months, returned in the bike in a big way by driving Political Foe to victory in a condition-optional claiming trot.
This four-year-old son of Political Briefing scored in 1:56.4, returning $20.40 in thee process.
Owned by Sanzeri along with Russ Guardino, Political Foe came within a tick of his life mark and sent his career bounty to $230,004.
Steve Condren was the driving star on Monday night, the Canadian scoring a hat trick with Striking Ivy ($5.60), El Diablo Rojo ($9.20) and Master of Puppets (8.40), in the Super Hi-5 finale, which now sports a carryover of $96,370.50 going into the Tuesday night program.
First-race post time for the Tuesday card is 7:30 p.m.
(Pompano Park)