Yes You Can, cannily driven by Corey Braden, found a seam turning for home, swung widest of all, and collared the favoured Godiva Seelster (Wally Hennessey) in the final stride to pull off a 28-1 upset in Pompano Park’s $11,000 Open Pace for mares on Wednesday night (March 29).
The winning margin was officially a neck after the 1:52.2 journey with Machin Marley (John MacDonald) third, one and a quarter lengths away after a garden trip. OK Heavenly finished fourth while Goldstar Rockette picked up the minor award in the field of nine.
At the outset, Godiva Seelster, leaving from the outside post nine, was hustled out of the gate to join the fray early as Machin Marley, from post five, also left the gate with alacrity to settle up close after relenting to Godiva Seelster for the garden spot. Yes You Can, leaving from the rail, was away alertly forcing Goldstar Rockette to take a seat behind her in fourth.
With Godiva Seelster forced into an opening panel in a swift :26.2, Hennessey was able to give his charge a breather reaching the half in :56.2, but things began to heat up on the backside as an outer flow developed with Southwind Trini joining the top three past the third station in 1:23.4 and Yes You Can sitting chilly fourth on the inside.
In the lane, Braden found that aforementioned seam, sent Yes You Can to the far outside gnawing away at Godiva Seelster, finally getting the edge in the final stride on the strength of her :28 finale.
After the race, Braden said, “Tony [trainer Dinges] said she can turn it on in the lane, but doesn’t like a first-over trip. Coming from Open 3 company in most recent start, I just sat chilly hoping for something to develop in the lane.
“I wasn’t about to pull on the backside on a mare like Godiva [Seelster], so I just was, as I said, hoping.
“When we turned for home, I had a little room and my mare responded. She was surprisingly good and drawing the rail really helped her cause tonight.”
Trained by Dinges for Holland Racing Stable of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont., Yes You Can won for the second time this season in nine starts with her 1:52.2 clocking a seasonal best.
She’s banked $12,376 this year and $178,460 lifetime.
As the eighth choice on the toteboard at 28-1, Yes You Can paid $59.60 to her faithful.
Also on Wednesday night, the Florida-bred 11-year-old trotter What About Brian, broke a 50-race losing streak by skimming the pylons en route to a 1:57.4 win for driver Jim Meitinnis, who was in the bike for owner Laurie Poulin.
The gelded son of Arapa Victory, trained by Mike Deters, scored his first win since December 12, 2015 and returned a mutual of $42.80 — the most generous $2 payout of his career — keying a 20-cent Superfecta payoff of $4,024.26 for the winning 2-5-6-7 combination.
The win was his 25th lifetime in a career stretching 214 starts — sending his career bankroll to $134,426.
Racing continues on Sunday night with the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace as the featured event. Drachan Hanover will attempt to repeat his sharp victory of a week ago with Sing For Me George, Heart Felt, Pointsman, Alta Jerome N and Scott Rocks all looking for the spoils. The track will also have a Pick-6 carryover, as well. Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)