Explosive Muscles, driven by Dave Ingraham, definitely lived up to his name on Tuesday night (March 7) by using his explosive muscle power in the final stages to score a well-earned 1:55.3 win in Pompano Park’s $10,000 Open II trotting feature.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass out-duelled Lugar, with Kevin Wallis in the bike, heading into the opening turn and went on to post panels of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.2 before a :29.1 finale held off Pocket Trip and driver Fern Paquet Jr. by a neck.
Fleetwood Hall, with Rick Plano handling that gelding’s lines, closed fastest of all in the classy octet to finish third, just a length off the winner, while Lugar was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth.
Kabu finished fifth while My Revenuer, Commentary and Southwind Stryker completed the order of finish, with the latter, off at even-money, making a miscue at the start.
After the race, driver Dave Ingraham related, “I didn’t see much happening when the gate sprung and this horse likes to be in the hunt from the get-go, so I did what he likes to do and went for the top.
“He made is rather easily and he was nice and relaxed the middle part of the mile. We really didn’t have much of a challenge on the backside so I thought we had a chance to get home tonight.
“Fern [Paquet]'s trotter was going some at the end but the wire came and that was that!”
Owned by Rebecca Uppal along with trainer Casandra Uppal, the ultra-consistent Explosive Muscles sent his 2017 scorecard to 3-2-2 in 10 starts, good for earnings of $21,820. Lifetime, Explosive Muscles has reached the winner’s circle on 26 occasions and now has a career bankroll of $166,836.
As second choice at 9-5, Explosive Muscles paid $5.80 to win.
Mares were in the spotlight in the night’s co-feature for the trotters and it was Bad Angel scoring a handy win for Wally Hennessey in a lifetime best 1:54.2.
The eight-year-old daughter of Valley Victor, owned and trained by George Coblentz, won the early fist fight with Shes All In (Rick Plano) and Celebrity Artemis (Marcello Spano) and posted fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.2 before her :29 sprint home left her nearest challenger, Shes All In, two and a half lengths away. Celebrity Artemis did finish third while Total Freedom, saving ground all the way, snuck up the inside to finish fourth, just a nose better than McKenzies Star, who picked up the minor award in the field of seven.
In a post race interview, Hennessey remarked, "I was in a race last week with Serendipitious and this mare was in there and, when I looked at the replay, noticed she had some good, strong trot at the end. I saw that she can leave a bit, too, so, with the five post, it was the perfect spot to send her.
"She was mighty strong tonight and never let up one ounce at any time during the mile.
"I'm happy to have done this for George [owner/trainer Coblentz]. He's really done a great job turning this mare around to be what she is today."
Bad Angel now has three wins in nine starts this semester and earnings of $16,705. Career-wise, Bad Angel boosted her bounty to $107,341.
Off as the even-money tote-board favourite, Bad Angel paid $4 to her multitude of $2 faithful.
Racing continues on Wednesday night with pacing mares in the limelight as Sweet Bet, a $6,000 claim two months ago, steps up the ladder again to the top level in the $11,000 Open Pace for the ladies. Wild Wanda, OK Heavenly, Goldstar Rockette, Godiva Seelster and Misssomebeach Blue complete a very talented sextet.
Godiva Seelster has been installed as the 9 -5 morning line favourite and will have the driving services of Pompano Park’s leading driver, Wally Hennessey.
Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)