Pompano Park was the Sunday night site of the Hennessey-Ingraham Pro-Am event, sponsored by the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC).
The highly competitive--yet friendly--event featured two races featuring captains Wally Hennessey and Dave Ingraham each have four FADC amateur members with Hennessey's team capturing the event 64-58.
Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey vaulted his team to the narrow victory by winning both of the events in which he drove, accounting for 30 of his teams 64 points.
Hennessey guided Cashallic to a narrow win in the opener, holding Bad I Am, driven by Ingraham, safe by a neck in 1:58.
Tony Dinges (Team Ingraham) finished third with Love Hunter while Robert Krivelin, handling Kabo, (Team Hennessey) was fourth. Leon Cable (Team Ingraham) was fifth with Pinky The Intern and, when the scores were tallied, Team Hennessey had a slim lead of 31-30.
The final event saw Hennessey winning with Its Payday Friday, by 8 1/2 lengths, in 1:57.4 over the 100 to 1 shot, Bad Cantab, driven by Billy Muggleston (Team Ingraham). Joe Pennacchio (Team Hennessey) was third with Zorwijk Impact while James Quinn (Team Hennessey) was fourth with Alfredo Dream. Steve Oldford (Team Ingraham) picked up the nickel with The Budster and, when all results were tallied, Hennessey's team had that six point edge.
After the event, Hennessey, Ingraham and the amateur drivers gathered in the winner's circle to make three charitable donations while edging close to the $200,000 mark.
Marla Berger was in attendance to receive the FADC donation to Tomorrow's Rainbow, recognized as the premier resource for grieving children, teens and their families. In making the presentation, Hennessey said, "this is such an important organization that actually guides children back to joy after suffering something traumatic. It's great to be a small part of their mission."
In accepting the donation, Ms. Berger, who is Program Director for Tomorrow's Rainbow, said, "Actually, I'm pretty speechless right now. There are really no sufficient words of thanks to the Amateur Driving Club for their generosity through the years. This, truly, is a great night for us."
Dave Ingraham and Kelly Case were also on hand to make presentations to The Christian Harness Horsemen's Association and Rockin T Equine Sanctuary and Rescue. The CHHA now in its 35th year of reaching out to the harness racing community under the direction of Chaplain Lee Alphin.
The Rockin T Equine Sanctuary houses sick, elderly and rejected horses, as well as other animals, with a core team of veterinarians, farriers and caretakers while providing well deserved comforts to their ‘residents.’
Ingraham said, "To see what the FADC does for so many worthwhile charities is very heartwarming and so much needed, especially after many of these horses have given so much to us on the racetrack."
Kelly Case then put her emphatic "Amen" on the evening saying, "Thus is what we are all about!"
FADC President Dein Spriggs closed the festivities by saying, "We couldn't have accomplished what we have done without the cooperation of Pompano Park and their grand staff. And for Wally (Hennessey) and Dave (Ingraham) to participate makes it a very special night."
FOUR SOCKS (18-1) SOCKS IT TO 'EM AT POMPANO
Four Socks, driven by Tyler Smith, showed his four socks to his nine foes on Sunday night (April 22) in a wire-to-wire romp in 1:51.4 at Pompano.
The eight-year-old gelded son of I Scoot Hanover, leaving from the rail post position, changed his usual come-from-behind strategy and sawed off front end panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.2 before a :27.2 finale left him three lengths ahead of favored Doo Wop Hanover, with Tony Kerwood in his sulky.
Team Captain, chasing the leader in the garden spot throughout the contest, finished third for Andy Santeramo, while Spirit Shadow finished fourth. Kotare Yael picked up the nickel in the classy 10 horse field.
After the race, trainer Mike Murphy related, "well, he'd got the ability, that's for sure. He likes racing off the pace better but, once in a while, we'll get him revved up for a mile like this. He gave a good performance last week to a couple of very good horses in finishing third, so I thought he'd be good tonight."
Murphy went on, "You know, he has missed some time over the past couple of seasons with a torn suspensory and we nursed him back to health each time. Since then, I don't train him too much--maybe (2:) 22 or (2:) 23, but that's about it.
"I didn't tell Tyler (driver Smith) anything. He gets along well with him but I did mention that he's feelin' real good and just do what he (Four Socks) wants to do.'
Trained by Murphy for his wife, Barbara, and Geneva Stewart, Four Socks won for the second time this year in 11 starts to push his 2018 bounty to $13,898. Lifetime, he's banked $176,849 to go along with his Hoosier Park mark of 1:50.1.
Off as fifth choice in the betting, Four Socks paid $39.80 to his faithful.
In other action, Music Is Art, driven by Tony Kerwood won the Open III pace in a lifetime best 1:50.3.
The four-year-old son of Art Major made a sweeping backside brush from three lengths off the lead to take command heading into the final bend and, then, on to a handy win measuring 1 1/2 lengths over Rebellious, driven by Jim Meittinis--that latter pacing his final three-quarters in 1:22.
Rockntouch, with Mickey McNichol in the sulky, finished third while Surge Seelster and Mittnage a Trois picked up the minors in the field of 10.
Trained by Peter Blood, who co-owns with Rick Berks, Music Is Art kept his 2018 scorecard unblemished--now a 2-for-2--with the win and lowered his previous best winning mile by one and two-fifths seconds.
Music Is Art now has career earnings of $112,777.
Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Music Is Art paid $5.80 to win.
Racing continues on Monday night with a Pick-6 carryover of $2,414 and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $4,829. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(Florida Amateur Driving Club / Pompano Park)