While thick cloud cover and another deluge of heavy rain prevented the stars from shining brightly over Pompano Park on Wednesday night, trainer Don Glowacki and driver Mickey McNichol provided the star power on the racetrack by teaming up for a hat trick on the mid-week card.
Dutchess Seelster, Brewing Master and Howie’s Heart, all trained by Glowacki and driven by McNichol, reached the winner’s circle, giving trainer Glowacki his very first nightly trifecta of wins. McNichol, with 4,521 lifetime wins, has, of course, had many.
John Campagnuolo’s Dutchess Seelster, a seven-year-old daughter of Duke of York and the only lady in the field of trotters, won for the second straight week in the $8,800 feature, using gate-to-wire tactics to score a handy win in 1:56.4 over the track labelled 'good.'
After sprinting to the top and carding an opening round of :28.2 to discourage any threats, McNichol rated the 'Dutchess' through a second panel of :30.2. She turned on the after-burners on the backside and brushed home a length and a half to the good over the pocket-sitting Tug River Dylan (driven by Walter Ross Jr.). Celebrity Legacy was third for Bruce Ranger, while Sir Tyson and Good Luck Penny took the final two awards in the field of six.
The victory was the third this year in 17 starts for the brave mare and 23rd lifetime, sending her career bounty to $237,069.
As the overwhelming favourite, Dutchess Seelster paid $2.80 on a successful Win wager.
Brewing Master, also owned by Campagnuolo, got things started for Team Glowacki by winning courtesy of a picture-perfect drive by McNichol. The duo left from the six post for the lead and then yielded to the 3-5 favourite, Famous Hall (Ranger). Brewing Master stalked the leader before edging on by inside the sixteenth pole for his very first win of the year in 18 starts. Aqua Lindy (Lou Ginesi) was third.
Giving a serious hint in his prior start, Brewing Master was the 3-1 second choice and returned $8.00.
Howies Heart, owned by Don and wife Jeanette, looked hopelessly out of it turning for home, but McNichol found a seam in deep stretch to nail the victory in the very last stride in 1:56.4 for his fourth success of the year. Daughtry Hanover (Joe Sanzeri) and Change Your Luck (Gaston Lareau) were next in the photo.
Bruce Ranger also had three wins on the card, scoring with Railee Kwik, Shallow Hal and Allen The Optomist.
(With files from Pompano)