Pompano Park had yet another million-dollar handle night on Thursday (April 1), as the track featured a pair of "Send It In" specials and a mandatory payout on the Super Hi-5 finale with a carryover of over $130,000 and a final pool over $500,000.
The "Send It In" Invites were issued for horses this season that were only two-for-109 in the win column in 2021 on the pace and 3 for 83 on the trot — each event carrying an "Open" purse of $10,000.
The "Send It In" trotting invitational went to the Mike Murphy-trained Fist Fighter, who, despite being roughed up early from the eight post, went on to score a handy two-length win for Wally Hennessey in 1:59.
The four-year-old gelded son of Mr Cantab took charge three-eighths into the mile and led the rest of the way, holding off the late-surging Savin Rock (Jack Killeen) with Legend Field (Corey Braden) next, 5-1/2 lengths away.
In the winner's circle after the event, Hennessey related, "Every win is special for me, but this one was extra special because it was for a wonderful trainer and gentleman, Mike Murphy, who deserves all the good luck in the world."
Owned by James Wilson along with Teri Jenkins, Fist Fighter paid $4.00 to win, with the 20-cent pentafecta ticket of 8-5-4-7-10 returning a handsome $1,147.02.
The companion "Send It In" pacing invitation, with the aforementioned mandatory Super Hi-5 payout, went to Rob Hoffman's Big Bad Baby in 1:57. Coming into the action with a scorecard of 0-0-0 in 11 starts, the seven-year-old daughter of Big Bad John swept widest of all turning for home and won by a half length over Elm Grove Nellie (Braxten Boyd) with J P Silver (Wally Hennessey) third after being last at the stretch call.
The race was action-packed from start to finish as Heavenly Evelyn zipped off the wings and took the field through an opener of :27.2 before relinquishing the lead to IRA Chief halfway through in :56.3. Meanwhile, the eventual winner, last at the opening marker, began to gnaw her way forward catching live cover along the way from Elm Grove Nellie.
The field tightened up at the third station in 1:26.3, and they were five across the track once they straightened away. Big Bad Baby took charge in mid-stretch from Elm Grove Nellie, who had taken a short lead turning for home.
After the event, owner-trainer-driver rob Hoffman said, "She's had just a prolonged unlucky streak. She has been drawing badly and alway in heavy traffic. Actually, tonight was no different, but we got some live cover flow for a change, and she sure responded when she got some room to roam! This was a bonanza for her tonight!"
It also turned out to be a bonanza for 79 astute handicappers in the "#SendItIn Army," as the 20-cent Super Hi-5 combination of 6-8-7-3-9 returned $5,568.20.
Handle for the night — the final Thursday of the season — was $1,136,788, extending the already record-breaking million-dollar handle nights at Pompano Park this season to 17.
Racing continues through April on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)