Hennessey Hits 9,000 Wins

Hall of Fame driver Wally Hennessey reached the coveted 9,000 win mark on Tuesday night at Pompano Park, securing the milestone with his second grand-slam in as many nights.

Hennessey reached the winner’s circle with Columbia Lion ($3.60) in the first race, Bodacious Becky ($3.60) in the fourth, De Vins Girl ($9.00) in the seventh and Winbak Heavenly ($3.20) in the eighth.

In guiding the Mike Deters-trained, Barbara Jensen-owned Winbak Heavenly to victory, Hennessey achieved a plateau that began back in 1976, when he won four races the entire year to begin his career.

A large group welcomed driver Wally Hennessey upon returning to the winner's circle for the 9,000th time. (Skip Smith Photo)

With over $60 million in purse earnings benefiting owners of horses he has driven, Wally Hennessey started his career in the Maritimes before leaving the East Coast to compete in the Canadian Ice Racing Classic in on Ottawa's Rideau Canal.

Since spreading his wings and coming to the United States, Hennessey had won many prestigious events, including several Breeders Crown races, the Hambletonian Oaks, the Kentucky Futurity, the Woodrow Wilson and the Nat Ray—the latter three times with the great Moni Maker.

Since 1989, he has had 26 seasons with 200 or more wins and 26 seasons with a UDRS (batting average) of over .300.

In an interview following his milestone win, Hennessey said, “I owe my success to many, many people, including my dad, who taught me so much, my wife, who has stuck with me all the way down this path, and my brother, Dan, who is an inspiration every day at the barn.”

Onto the racing action, on a track rated surprisingly good after heavy storms pelted South Florida, Totally Rusty, given picture perfect handling by Matt Romano, emerged victorious in the $15,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares in a lifetime best performance of 1:50.1. Her winning margin was a length over a stubborn Godiva Seelster, driven by Wally Hennessey with All Charged Up, teamed up with John MacDonald, third.

Just A Bee, facing a difficult task from her outside nine post, finished fourth in the field of nine while Goldstar Rockette, in a ground saving mile, picked up the nickel.

At the outset, driver Romano sent Totally Rusty blasting out of the gate while taking the early lead with All Charged Up securing a good early spot and Godiva Seelster on the prowl from the outside.

Lady Godiva took command just a stride or two shy of the hot opening quarter of :26.2 and continued up top through a :54.2 half. She showed her hooves to her foes past the third station in 1:22.1 but, shortly thereafter, Totally Rusty left the coziness of her pocket and surged along-side Godiva Seelster before pushing her nose in front in mid-stretch and then edging clear to the wire.

In a post-race interview, driver Matt Romano had high praise for both horse and trainer saying, “She tried tackling the best ones in the Isle Late Closer and that was just a bit too tough for her, so, Ross (trainer Croghan) gave her a couple of weeks off to forget about that and she came back with a vengeance tonight.

“I left with her because, one, she had the five post and, two, it seemed that there were three pretty good ones outside. I thought I’d try and get a jump on them and I did on two of them.

“Then, Wally’s great mare (Godiva Seelster) gave me some cover and the fractions were lively, so it all worked out great...and Ross (Croghan) had her ready, so it worked out great.”

In earning her 16th lifetime win in only 29 lifetime starts, the four year-old Rustys For Ready chestnut, owned by the Let It Ride Stables, sent her career earnings to $318,579. As the 2-1 favourite, she returned $6.40 to win.

The Open 2 Pace for the ladies went to the aforementioned De Vins Girl, with Hennessey guiding the nine year-old daughter of Red River Hanover to victory in 1:52.3 for his 8,999th lifetime victory.

Dreas Good Powow finished second, two lengths back, for Dave Ingraham while Classic Carpet finished third for Matt Romano after sizzling through fractions of :27, :54.3 and 1:22.2.

Heart Major finished fourth while Sinspirational was next in the field of eight.

De Vins Girl was sixth in the early going before tilting out prior to the half and wending forward.

Hennessey went after De Vins Girl heading into the final turn and gave her a few reminders as they turned for home before hitting the wire with the whip straight up in the air.

Trained by Renaldo Morales III for owner Dan Clements, De Vins Girl, a winner last week at odds of 1-10, stretched her winning streak to two this night and returned $9.00 to win. De Vins Girl now has 35 lifetime wins and career bounty of $321,830.

Finally, the popular “Over The Hill Gang” trot, featuring an octet of nine-year-olds and up with combined lifetime earnings of over $3,000,000, went postward and, relishing the “slightly off” track, Mandabra emerged victorious for driver Joe Pavia, Jr..

The 10-year-old altered son of Kadabra was away in good order third as Savethelastdanceforme won an early battle with Mad Cow Lisa, driven by Aaron Byron, through an opening panel of :28.3. Shortly after, Mad Cow Lisa brushed to the front but Mandabra surged up prior to the :57 half to take command and opened up daylight on the backside before reaching the third station in 1:26.3. Mandabra finished his one mile tour in 1:57, pinning a defeat measuring a half-length on Mad Cow Lisa.

Flashy Lady was third for Mike Micallef while Play Fair, last at the stretch call, finished fourth. On The Tab finished fifth in an event that spanned 2 1/4 lengths from top to bottom.

Trained by Pavia for the Joe Pavia, Jr. Stable, it was victory number 28 in a career measuring 178 starts sending his lifetime bankroll to $336,612.

Off at 3-2, Mandabra returned a $5.00 dividend to his many $2 investors.

Racing continues on Saturday night at Pompano Park with first post scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

(with files from Pompano)