E Z Noah, driven by Aaron Byron, unhurried early through blazing fractions, roared home in :27.1 to post an upset win in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night.
The six-year-old gelded son of Western Terror, trained by Shawn Glassmeyer for owner Baron Racing Stable, stopped the timer in 1:50 for his first success of the season in seven starts, drawing clear by two lengths over Steelhead Hanover (Joe Pavia Jr.) and Johnny Grippa (Bruce Ranger) -- the latter duo finishing in a dead-heat for second. Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion Three Of Clubs, making his initial appearance this season, was just a nose back in fourth while Rajis Blue Line was fifth in the field of nine.
It was Three Of Clubs with gate speed at the start, with Steelhead Hanover, beginning from post nine, on the attack early and taking charge just short of the opener in :26.2. Johnny Grippa was next and E Z Noah a relaxed fourth.
Positions remained unchanged through the :54.4 half with E Z Noah on the move midway up the backside.
With the hot pace continuing through three-quarters in 1:22.1, Steelhead Hanover continued to show the way, but a sixteenth out, E Z Noah had him measured and strolled on by while Johnny Gripps and Three Of Clubs battled for place honours with Steelhead Hanover. The photo showed Steelhead Hanover and Johnny Gripps tied, and Three Of Clubs a nostril back.
In a post-race interview, Byron said, "[Trainer Shawn Glassmeyer) told me that the horse has a ton of talent and that he thought he'd been on the improve. I thought I might be in a little deep with him, but I was hoping for a hot pace with the thought of picking up the pieces if they went three-quarters in, say, [1]:22. He was full of pace in the lane when it counted."
EZ Noah now has 20 lifetime victories and career bounty of $411,774.
As fifth choice on the toteboard, E Z Noah paid $20.60 to his faithful followers.
In the $7,000 pace for $15,000 claimers, Neptune Blue Chip, handled by Bruce Ranger, went back to his "old" strategy and used alacrity out of the gate and broke the beams at :26.2, :55.1 and 1:23 before sprinting a final quarter in :27.4 to report home in a lifetime-best 1:50.4.
Though Neptune Blue Chip has had the majority of his wins leading up to this night on or near the front end -- 20 of 24 -- he has been racing off the pace in recent events, but on Saturday night, he was on the engine as the gate sprung, and as driver Bruce Ranger said, "he brushed the whole mile."
The seven-year-old altered son of American Ideal, trained by Jim McDonald for Ciro Gentile and Twenty Four Carrot Racing, pinned the wire-to-wire defeat on pocket-sitting M G Home Run (Kevin Wallis), one and a quarter lengths away. Cascata (Dave Ingraham) finished third while Oakmont and Acton Onelasttime picked up the final two awards.
Neptune Blue Chip won for the 25th time in his career measuring 116 starts, sending his lifetime bounty to $160,792.
As the 8-5 favourite, Neptune Blue Chip paid $5.20 to win.
In another Saturday night highlight, longtime sportswriter Murray Janoff, one of the original founders of the United States Harness Writers Association, was honoured on the eve of his 100th birthday.
Family and friends, including New York newspaper columnists Dave and Debbie Little, former driver Lucien Fontaine and Harness Link editor Steve Wolf, joined the sports icon in the winner's circle to pay a well deserved tribute for his coverage of harness racing, as well as pro football, basketball, baseball, track and field and tennis.
During his distinguished career spanning eight decades, he has covered some of sport's most prestigious events, including many Super Bowl events, World Series', NBA Playoffs, and of course, many harness racing feature races.
Janoff, an astute handicapper, was presented with a "P.H.D." (Professional Handicapping Degree), as well.
Pompano Park's Super Hi-5, even with 19-1 chance Milliondollartouch taking the finale, saw 16 astute handicapper having the 6-4-7-5-3 combination with the 20-cent ticket returning $636.36. The carryover for Monday night's program is $165,950.91. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)