Pompano Park hosted a pair of $11,500 Open events on Tuesday night (March 2), with Timon AS and Casies Believer taking top honours in their respective races.
Timon AS, handled by Peter Wrenn, stepped up to the top tier for trotters after a pair of wins in the highest claiming ranks and went on to blow by his stout competition in the Open Handicap Trot in a lifetime best 1:53.1, eclipsing his former mark of 1:54 over the larger seven-eighths-mile track at Hoosier Park last season.
The five-year-old altered son of Lionhunter roared by the pacesetting Muscles For Life (Wally Hennessey) at mid-stretch and scored by a widening 2-1/2 lengths with Born To Thrive (Rick Plano) third, six lengths away.
Cantab Lindy left with his usual alacrity from the rail while Timon AS and Muscles For Life were also on the prowl early. Muscles For Life reached the opening panel in :27.4 with Timon AS in the garden spot and Cantab Lindy tucked in third. After a leisurely half in :57, the pace quickened on the backside with Muscles For Life sprinting away to a 2-1/4-length lead on the strength of a :27.4 third panel.
Turning for home, Timon AS quickly closed that gap and, by mid-stretch, was on even terms before pulling away in the late stages for a handy win.
Said Peter Wrenn after the event, “Yes, he stepped up from the claimers — and I am sure glad nobody claimed him — but,” Wrenn laughed, “since he can’t read that well, he didn’t know who he was in with tonight and I was very confident when we got to the top of the lane. He’s got quite a motor and can brush hard for a good three-eighths. He’s really blossomed into a very nice horse!”
Trained by Wrenn for owner Michael Guest, Timon AS won for the sixth time in nine starts this semester, good for $34,850. The win was the 19th of his career, vaulting his lifetime bounty to $98,760. Off as the fourth choice at 7-1, Timon AS paid $17.20.
The companion event for pacing mares went to Casies Believer, with Joe Chindano Jr. in the sulky — his second win in an Open event in the last 25 hours.
This six-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar saved ground and slipped through along the pylons in the final yards to score by a neck over the pacesetting Prairie Westerngal (Wally Hennessey) in 1:52.1. Lucky Artist A (Mike Simons) closed fastest of all — :27.3 — to finish third, less than a length away.
Prairie Westerngal zipped off the wings to take charge immediately as Casies Believer secured the garden spot. Prairie Westerngal sped an opening quarter in :26.1 but got a breather during the second panel, reaching the half in :56.1. On the backside, the pace accelerated as Prairie Western Gal turned back the challenge of Crisp Mane with Casies Believer sitting chilly along the inside.
Turning for home, the leader bore out a bit and Casies Believer quickly took advantage of that shortest route home and pinched through to win.
Also owned and trained by Chindano, Casies Believer won for the second time this season and sent her 2021 bounty to $19,030 to go along with her mark of 1:51.1 set two starts back. She paid $21.60 to win.
Racing continues on Wednesday night (March 3) with a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-4 and a Super Hi-5 Jackpot of $20,061.08. Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)