Senorita Santanna, a bridesmaid to Godiva Seelster in their last two encounters, finally conquered her nemesis on Wednesday night (May 6) in Pompano Park's $10,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares, stopping the clock in 1:53.4.
The five-year-old daughter of Santanna Blue Chip, off as second choice at 5-2 and handled this night by Kevin Wallis, was away alertly, as usual, before yielding to Godiva Seelster, off at 1-5 with Wally Hennessey handling her lines, around the first turn and stalking that one through fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.4.
Tilting out turning for home, 'Senorita' began gnawing away at 'Godiva,' drawing on even terms a sixteenth out and then on to a victory measuring three-parts of a length. Just Fine, longest chance on the board at 65-1, teamed up with Mickey McNichol to be third four lengths away, while Artful Impulse finished fourth. Mach Me Not picked up the minors in the field of seven.
In a post race interview, Wallis related, "I had driven this mare before around the first of the year and won with her a couple of times so I knew of her talent. She has early speed so she left right out and I really didn't want to get in any speed duel early with a mare with the credentials of Wally [Hennessy's] mare [Godiva Seelster]. He rated her well to the half so I didn't know if I would be able to get by her off that, but my mare responded very well when asked and she must have paced her final quarter under :28 [actually :27.4] to get by."
Trained by Joe Sanzeri for the J L Benson Stables, Senorita Santanna won for the fifth time in 17 starts this year, sending her seasonal bankroll to just short of $50,000 -- $48,170 to be precise. She's banked $161,214 lifetime.
She returned a $7.00 mutuel to her faithful.
Godiva Seelster (by Camluck), by the way, with her second-place finish, extended her streak of earning cheques to 53, covering her every start as a three year-old, four-year-old and, thus far, five-year-old.
In the companion $10,000 Open Handicap for trotters, Ontario-sired Count Speed extended his win skein to four with a 1:55.3 win for driver Wally Hennessey.
Trained by Dan Hennessey for owners Paul and Patricia O'Neil, the Majestic Son six-year-old did not have the easiest of journeys as he went searching for the lead early, only to be out-scooted from the get-go by, first, Illusionsndreams (Andy Santeramo), and then, Gold Savage (Mickey McNichol), through an opening panel of :27.2 with Count Speed's main rival, Increditable, handled by Kevin Wallis, finding a cozy spot in fourth after starting from the outside nine post.
But Count Speed kept pressing on, taking command halfway through the mile in :56.2 with Gold Savage second, Illusionsndreams third and Increditable fourth, but on the move heading into the final turn.
With the three-quarters on the board in 1:25.2, Count Speed turned for home with a lead of one and a half lengths, but through the lane, no serious threats developed and Count Speed hit the wire with that same margin over the late-charging Increditable, with Gold Savage third and Jailhouse Jessica rallying late for fourth. Illusionsndreams did finish fifth in the nine-horse field.
After the event, Hennessey said, "This was not an easy trip...but when you have an outside post with what seems to be your main rival one notch out, there is no choice but to keep pressing on. It was a pretty demanding 1:25.2 three-quarters for him, but I guess it was a demanding three-quarters for the others near the top as well. He's in very sharp form now and that's what got him through this one tonight."
For Count Speed, it was his fourth win -- all consecutive -- in six starts, good for bounty of $17,220 this semester. He's banked $214,513 lifetime.
As the 5-2 second choice in the betting, Count Speed paid $7.20 to win.
Other notable performances on Wednesday night were put in by My Revenuer, Cheap N Easy and Looney Dune.
My Revenuer, driven by Tom Sells for owner/trainer Tom Petri, "exploded" by his rivals in the stretch to score a four and a quarter length in the $7,500 Open 2 Trot, defeating Goldstar Classic and Wally Hennessey in a season's best 1:55.3. Ex King and Andy Santeramo rallied to finish third while Tyrone Showstopper was fourth after cutting panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:26.3. The Muscler picked up the final award in the field of nine.
My Revenuer, a seven-year-old son of Revenue S, won for the second time this season -- 20th win lifetime -- to send his 2015 earnings to $22,821. He's banked $156,596 lifetime.
As the 2-1 second choice, My Revenuer paid $6.20 to win.
Cheap N Easy, a seven-year-old daughter of Cams Card Shark, came into the action in her conditioned pace for mares with a mark of 1:52.2 set three season's ago at the seven-eighths Vernon Downs oval. She went into the Pompano Park winner's circle with a new mark -- 1:51.2 -- after leading at every pole -- :26.4, :54.4 and 1:23 -- along the way.
Trained by Fred Cohen for Melvin Fink and Clifford Grundy, Cheap N Easy won for the 48th time during her career to send her lifetime bounty to $242,188.
Cheap N Easy was 3-5 on the toteboard and returned $3.40.
Looney Dune also recorded a new lifetime mark -- 1:52.1 -- in her conditioned pace for mares.
The Bettors Delight seven-year-old, trained by Jack Mc Neil III for owner Ellen Mc Neil, was driven by Ben Mc Neil and also led throughout the proceedings, carding fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.3 before repelling the stout challenge of Taylor B Swift and driver Wally Hennessey turning for home and finishing off her opponents with her :28.3 finale. Della Bea finished third for Bruce Ranger while DVC Kahlua Breeze and Goldstar Rcokette picked up the final two awards in the field of 10.
Second choice in the betting, Looney Dune paid $6.80 to win.
In Pompano Park's Super Hi-5, longshot Track Girl (12-1) keyed a 4-1-5-3-6 winning combination paying $211.16 to 20 astute handicappers for their 20-cent investment, sending the carryover to Saturday night's program over the $190,000 mark.
The track also announced that there will be a mandatory payout of the Super Hi-5 on Wednesday, May 20, provided no single winner cashes in prior to then.
Saturday night post time is set at 7:30 p.m with the Super Hi-5 carded as the final race on the card.
(With files from Pompano Park)