Sing For Me George, driven by Kevin Wallis, took top honours in Pompano Park’s $10,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday night, scoring a gate-to-wire win in 1:50.4.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Bettors Delight rocketed through an opening quarter in :26.2 and then went on to card panels of :55.1 and 1:23.4 before a :27.2 sprint home sealed the deal by 3-1/4 lengths over the only mare in the field, OK Heavenly, handled by Wally Hennessey. Maxdaddy Blue Chip, with Mickey McNichol in the bike, rallied for third, just a neck further back while Rock On Moe, last in the sextet for the majority of the mile, finished fourth. Heart Felt was fifth after a mild first over bid on the backside while Arsenal, prominent in the garden spot for the first five-eighths of the mile, finished sixth.
In a post-race interview, driver Kevin Wallis related, “The key was the start and having the five post helped tremendously because that post has won around 25 percent of the races here.
“I thought that if I could make the top early, I’d have a chance to control the race and my horse (Sing For Me George) like to get into it early.
“The opening quarter probably dissuaded anyone from an early challenge so I was able to grab a hold a bit through the half and really not too much developed on the backside.
“I chirped at him once at the top of the lane and he responded like a good horse does.
“He went a heckuva mile.”
Coming into the action with nary a win in seven starts but with a pair of seconds and five third-place finishes, Sing For Me George earned his initial win of the season for trainer Paul Bernardo, who trains for owner Joseph Martinelli Sr.
Sing For Me George now has 23 career wins in 129 lifetime starts and $433,636 to go along with his mark of 1:50.2 as a five year-old at The Meadowlands.
Off as one of the 8 to 5 co-favourites, Sing For Me George paid $5.20 to win.
In other Easter night action, the 12-year-old trotting warrior Ill Tell You What, also driven by Kevin Wallis, scored the 61st win of his storied career measuring 298 starts when he wired his seven foes in a conditioned trot in 1:56.
The gelded son of Lockkeeper clicked off panels of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:25.3 before coasting home unscathed in :30.2 to win by 6-3/4 lengths. Trained by Deb Clayton for owner Janet Mathely, Ill Tell You What now owns a 61-55-57 scorecard and earnings of $423,540 to go along with his 1:53.2 mark set seven seasons ago over the 1-1/4 mile Colonial Downs oval.
Ill Tell You What paid $3.40 to win.
Yet another altered son of Lockkeeper, PCs Alleyway, scored for Wallis to kick off the Easter night festivities, also winning a conditioned trot.
This four-year-old, trained by Mike Sweeney, who co-owns with Jeff Lemmer, held on to win in 1:57.4 for his second consecutive win and ninth score lifetime to send his career bounty to $71,637 in 48 starts.
Off at 1 to 2, PCs Alleyway paid $3.00 to his multitude of followers.
Racing continues on Monday night with the $10,000 Open Trot being the feature.
In that event, Boli is listed as the 8-5 morning line favourite as that five-year-old gelded son of Kadabra looks to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in last week’s event after starting from the outside seven post and never able to join the fray. Wally Hennessey is expected back in the sulky back of Boli.
Commentary, Pocket Trip, Tater Twister, Sailer Eddie and Prairie Fortune complete the talented sextet.
Monday’s Pick-4 pool is guaranteed at $10,000 as part of the U.S.T.A. Strategic Wagering Program. There is also a carryover in the track’s Pick-6, conducted on races 3 through 8. Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 finale has a carryover going into Monday night of $78,904.
First race post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)