Sailer Eddie, driven by owner-trainer Kevin Wallis, barely held off the late charging Sooo Handsome, with Rick Plano in the bike, to escape with a photo finish victory in Monday’s $12,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park.
At the outset, Sailer Eddie, leaving from Pompano Park’s coveted post five, left with his usual alacrity and zipped into an early lead as Sooo Handsome, starting from post four, also showed some speed off the gate and settled in the garden spot.
Explosive Muscles, Celebrity Maserati, Boli and Winding Hill completed the order through an opening quarter in :27.3 with positions unchanged past the half in :56.2 and three quarters in 1:25.
Turning for home, Sailer Eddie cut the corner trying to protect his lead while Sooo Handsome left the coziness of the pocket and began gnawing away.
The wire came just in time for Sailer Eddie and a stride too late for Sooo Handsome as the photo finish camera separated the pair by a whisker. The official margin was a “nose” at the conclusion of the 1:54 journey with Boli and driver Wally Hennessey teaming up for show honours.
After the race, driver Kevin Wallis said, “What helped tonight was the scratch that put us in the five post, a spot where it’s beneficial to leave. My horse likes to race in front. Just about all of the wins I have had with him have been on the front end and, when he’s on, he can be pretty tough. This is the fastest he’s gone in quite some time and I am proud of his performance tonight.”
In garnering his fourth win of the year in eight starts, this seven year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall pushed his seasonal earnings to $20,910 and $360,351 lifetime. Sailer Eddie paid $6.40 to win.
The $10,000 Open 2 Trot went to Noble Anthony, driven by Mike Simons, by a nose over the feisty long-shot Commentary (John MacDonald) in 1:55.4. Massive Lightning (Mickey McNichol) finished a fast closing third.
The winner, a seven-year-old gelded son of Andover Hall, survived a first-over trip the entire last lap to get up in the last stride over the pace-setting Commentary, who had carved well rated fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:26.3 before succumbing in the last stride.
Noble Anthony is also trained by Simons and co-owns with Albert Abdala III.
The win was the fourth of the year for Noble Anthony to push his 2017 bankroll to $19,525 and $120,255 lifetime. Noble Anthony paid $4.20 to win.
In other Monday night action, the Florida Amateur Driving Club went to the starting gate in two divisions with The Budster and JLS Too Hot Taj, both owned by Oldford Racing and driven by Steve Oldford, winning their respective events.
The Budster, a rugged 12-year-old altered son of Broadway Hall, took advantage of an early miscue by the 2-5 favourite, A Crown For Lindy, and went on to score a near gate-to-wire win in 1:58.4.
The winner scored over Chip Chip Page (Tony Dinges) with Flaming Yankee (“Touchdown” Teddy Bowman) another half-length back in third.
The Budster won for the 45th time in his career stretching 229 starts, vaulting his career bankroll to $651,476. He paid $8.80 to win.
JLS Too Hot Taj, took command after a brief tussle with Garlandsandpearls (Dein Spriggs) to score a gritty win in a career best 1:56.2—that winning margin a head with B Cor Thomas (Billy Muggleston) third, just a half-length away.
This five-year-old daughter of Pilgrims Taj won for the fourth time this semester in 11 starts, pushing her bounty to $13,271. Career-wise, this Mike Deters trainee has $63,798 on her card with 10 wins. JLS Too Hot Taj paid $4.20 to win.
The Amateur Club pushed their donations well over the $180,000 plateau with a sizable contribution to Equine Assisted Therapies, an organization that specializes in Therapeutic Riding, Hippothearpy, Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Psychotherapy, including a Wounded Warrior program.
Molly Murphy, Executive Director of the Organization, was on hand in the winner’s circle to accept the donation.
Racing continues on Tuesday night with mares in the spotlight in the $8,500 Open Trot.
This classy sextet features Mckenzies Star, Serendipitious, Bad Angel, Diamond Dagger, Celebrity Artemis and Shes All In, the latter seeking a repeat victory.
The track will also offer a $10,000 guaranteed pool on the Pick-4, conducted on races 6 through 9, as well as a carryover of $33,732.89 on the Super Hi-5 finale.
That entire Super Hi-5 jackpot can only be claimed when there is only one ticket sold on the winning combination. Multiple winners share 50% of that night's pool with the balance added to the existing carryover.
Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)