In an epic battle to the wire, Panocchio, driven by Bruce Ranger, edged by a game Duc Dorleans and Donald Dupont in the final strides to post a 1:50 victory in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (April 11).
Neptune (Aaron Byron) rallied late to finish third while favourite Steelhead Hanover (Joe Pavia Jr.) faltered and finished fourth after, once again, cutting sizzling panels similar to in his last two victories of 1:49.2 and 1:50. Northern Companion was fifth in the sextet over Canadian Touch.
When the gate sprung, Canadian Touch, handled by Mike Micallef, left with alacrity and briefly engaged Steelhead Hanover in a battle for the top spot early with the latter taking command right at the opener in :26.1. Meanwhile, Duc Dorleans, leaving in search of a cozy close-up spot, found one in third with Panocchio, from the outside post, settling in fourth in front of Neptune and Northern Companion.
Positions remained somewhat stagnant through the lively half in :54.3, but, on the backside, Steelhead Hanover began to feel the heat with Duc Dorleans moving alongside and Panocchio following live cover through three-quarters in 1:22.1.
In the lane, Duc Dorleans took charge with Panocchio fanning widest of all and, finally, wearing down the "Duc" near the wire -- the margin a half-length.
In a post race interview, Ranger said, "With so much speed leaving inside of where we started, it just didn't make sense for me to get in a war early, so I kinda just floated out of there looking for a good spot in front of the two [Neptune and Northern Companion] that don't seem to want to be in the thick of it early. I was lucky to find a spot ahead of those two around the first turn...I certainly didn't want to be six or seven lengths behind early.
"When Don [Dupont] pulled going first up with his horse [Duc Dorleans], I just followed him and just tilted out further in the lane. We were both going some at the end...mine just a little more than his. That was the difference. Both of our horses are capable of sub-1:50.
"Again, I have to give credit to Jim and Vicki [Mattison] because they do such an incredible job with this horse. They have taught him well...He's very well behaved and does everything asked of him."
Owned by Emile Johnson Jr. along with Jim Mattison, the five-year-old son of No Pan Intended is now two-for-three this semester and 26-for-56 lifetime with career earnings of $186,066.
The Florida Amateur Driving Club, having donated over $140,000 to worthwhile organizations since their inception, played host to thesmartride.org on Saturday night, an organization dedicated to supply funding to agencies assisting those affected with HIV. Thesmartride.org has a yearly bicycle event from Miami to Key West -- 165 miles -- that has raised over $6.4 million in its 12-year history. This year's event is held in November with 100 per cent of all funding going to the organization, which thrives on bicycle participants and volunteers.
Ranger, by the way, also had two other winners on the card: the first with the $20,000 claiming pacer Johnny Grippa, this seven-year-old son of Cams Card Shark stitching together equal halves of :55.2 to record a gate-to-wire win in a lifetime-best 1:50.4 for Mc Trade Enterprises; and the other with The Three Gees Stable's First Impression slipping through along the pylons late to earn his 41st lifetime win, this one for trainer Gary McDonald.
First Impression's win came in Pompano Park's finale, the Super Hi-5 with 41 astute handicappers cashing in on the 4-5-2-1-3 combo paying $138.82 for their 20-cent investment. The Super Hi-5 carryover for Monday night's card now has vaulted to $130,503. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)