The ‘McNichol-Santeramo team’ clicked again on Sunday night at Pompano Park as the McNichol-trained and Santeramo-driven Dees Rocketman captured the $15,000 Open I Handicap Pace at the south Florida oval. The same duo captured the $13,200 Open II with Team Captain.
Dees Rocketman ($3.80), a six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven ridgling, stayed out of the fierce early war between American Hustle and Panocchio and then circled the field from last in the final three-eighths of the mile to score in 1:51.1. His margin of victory was one and a quarter lengths on the wire over a very game American Hustle (driven by Bryce Fenn). Hollywood Sign A (Matt Krueger) finished third and Drachan Hanover finished fourth. Panocchio could only manage to finish fifth after the American Hustle-Panocchio duel through the front half.
Owned by Joseph Martinelli Sr., Dees Rocketman has now banked over $50,000 this season on the strength of a 7-1-0 scorecard after 11 starts.
Team Captain ($17.40), who is also owned by Martinelli, annexed the $13,200 Open II Pace in 1:53.1. He saved ground all the way before slipping through along the pylons late to score a photo-finish win over Annihilator (Matt Krueger) and Kotare Yael N (Corey Braden), who tied for second. Dakota Jack closed fastest of all to finish fourth, while Four Socks finished fifth.
Team Captain, a six-year-old gelded son of Cams Card Shark, won for the fourth time this year in what was his 10th seasonal start. The win pushed his seasonal bankroll to $20,280.
In other Sunday night happenings, when Im An Art Major (Dave Ingraham) won the final race of the program as the 3-1 second choice, it triggered a 1-10-2-7-6 Super Hi-5 payoff of $56,270.40 for the 20-cent ticket.
Hillybilly (36-1) finished second while Art Again 14-1 was third. The catamount Kid (48-1) finished fourth with Respectable Dream (1-2) fifth.
Also, a tribute was given to the game trotter Adenium, who was retired from the wars of racing after his recent victory at Pompano Park.
The banana-munching 12-year-old gelded son of Revenue S won 33 times during his 10-year career which measured 227 starts with more than half of his wins at the south Florida oval, including several wins in the Open class.
Pompano racing will continue on Monday night with a very competitive nine-race card that will feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-4, which covers Races 6 through 9.
(With files from Pompano Park)