It didn't take long for the aftershock from the Kentucky Derby ‘earthquake’ to travel the 1,050 miles to Pompano Park, as the South Florida track wrapped up its 2018-2019 racing season on Saturday (May 4).
While Dave Ingraham was the driving star with a ‘grand slam’ of wins, the first aftershock came in the opening race, as the Kelly Case owned and trained Kegler Hanover took the first of three amateur driving events in 1:58.1, as the longest proposition on the tote-board at 27-1.
John Mungillo was in the bike as the nine-year-old altered son of Crazed enjoyed patient handling and got up in the final strides to nail Security Guard (driven by Dein Spriggs) right on the money. Fast Glider (Philippe Trudeau) was another nose back in the photo finish. The win was number 30 in the career of Kegler Hanover, now sporting $233,907 in career earnings. He paid $56.60 to win.
About 19 minutes later, Corey Braden was in the bike as Haydens Little Man, off at 25-1, came from last around the final bend to charge by all in the lane and stop the timer in 1:55. Haydens Little Man, a seven-year-old gelded son of American Ideal, scored by one and a quarter lengths over Jay Bees Grin N (Dave ingraham) with Norm At Work (Mike MIcallef) third, returning $53.80 to win, completing the early daily double worth $434.90. Trained by Dan Gassien for the Jemaxpo Racing Stable, Haydens Little Man pushed his 2019 scorecard to 4-2-2in 17 starts, good for $21,924 this semester and $130,031 career-wise.
In the very next race, Lugar, now 11 years of age, turned the clock back a few years as he wired his foes in 1:59.4 in the second amateur event on the card. The win came at the expense of the late-charging Deli Craze (Ron Cisomano) and Groovey Kid (John Campagnuolo). The winner went off at 33-1 and returned $68.80 to his faithful. Said owner-trainer Leon Cable after the event, "Lugar turned the clock back a few years. He loves to get in the action early and this time he raced like he did some years ago. He got his memory back, that's for sure." Making his 201st career start, Lugar won for the 33rd time, launching his lifetime earnings over the $250,000 mark -- $251,057, to be precise.
The three $11,000 Open co-features went to Northern Dail in the mares open pace, Beer Dad on the trot, Caviart Reagan on the pace – all driven by Dave Ingraham.
The Pick-5 wound up paying a healthy $511.35 for just three of five winners. The 20-cent Super Hi-5 payoff was $38.35; with a carryover of $127,000 going in, the final pool total was well over $300,000 with over 8,700 tickets on the winning combination.
Wally Hennessey led all drivers during the meet with 359 wins and wound up with a UDR over .500 (he started in over 900 races).
The track’s racing secretary, Joe Frasure, along with FSBOA President Dein Spriggs, presented cheques to the incentive award winners in four categories. Gaston Lareau took top honours in the 12+ category with 59 wins, earning $25,000 in the program sponsored by the Isle and the FSBOA. John MacDonald received $16,000 as winner in the 6-11 category. Dan Hennessey received $8,000 in taking top honours in the 2-5 class, while Marie Schaefer was the beneficiary in the ‘single’ stable category.
Pari-mutuel racing at Pompano will return in early November, while Florida-bred stakes events have been scheduled as non-wagering events in October.
(With files from Pompano Park)