Dodging a major weather ‘bullet’ as Tropical Storm Alberto roared alongside, Pompano Park got its Sunday night show in. It featured Four Socks scoring a ‘three peat’ win the Open Pace, four trainers being honoured as winners of the track's incentive program, and Wally Hennessey hitting yet another grand slam.
Four Socks, superbly handled by Hennessey, led from first long stride to the wire to score a 1:53.3 win over a track dulled somewhat by torrential rains throughout the last two days.
The stout-closing Dees Rocketman grinded away the entire last lap and finished a neck back in second for Mickey McNichol. Sing For Me George finished a strong third for Dave Ingraham. Kotare Yael N, who actually closed fastest of all, finished fourth, while Fritzie Pic Up Man finished fifth.
"First, I think the track crew did an amazing job in keeping the track in racing shape after all the rain we've had. Hats off to them,” Hennessey said after the race. “Second, even though Four Socks took a week off, he is such a great horse that a week off doesn't bother him at all. He was as sharp as usual leaving and he's got a great quality of being able to relax once he's on top or when things settle down after the dust settles.
"I'm so happy for Mike (trainer Murphy), who is recovering from a kidney transplant just a couple of days ago. This, I am sure will speed up his recovery! There's nothing like a win to help things along."
The win pushed Four Socks scorecard to 5-2-3 in 15 starts, good for $26,208 this year for owners Geneva Stewart and Barbara Murphy, Mike's wife. He's banked $189,134 career-wise.
As the 4-5 tote-board favourite, Four Socks rewarded his faithful with a $3.60 mutuel.
Hennessey also won with Pacing Pretty Stable's Brown Titan ($4.40), JP Houle Stables' St Lads Lotto ($3.20), and Spirit Shadow ($2.60), also owned by the JP Houle Stable.
Hall of Famer Hennessey now has an astounding 227 wins for the meet – a winning percentage of almost 27 per cent.
St Lads Lotto and Spirit Shadow are trained by Gaston Lareau, who has closed the gap in the leading trainer competition and now trails John MacDonald by only two wins going into the final night of the season (Wednesday night).
Lareau has eight horses entered for the final night of the season on Wednesday night.
After the first race, Pompano Park's racing secretary, Joe Frasure, was in the winner's circle to present trainers Allen Saul, Kelly Case, Nick Surick (Allen Johnson accepting) and Gaston Lareau with monetary awards for winning their respective divisions in the unique incentive program designed to reward trainers stabled at the track for their season-long participation.
The program, designed by vice president / general manager Troy Buswell, director of racing Stacy Cahill, and racing secretary Joe Frasure, culminated with cheques to Saul ($2,500), Case ($4,000), Surick ($6,000) and Lareau ($12,500).
The incentive program, for trainers stabled on the grounds, will double for the 2018-2019 racing season, which will get underway in late October.
Racing continues on Wednesday night with the grand finale featuring 11 races and a mandatory payout in the Super Hi-5. The carryover going in is $18,822.23.
Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)