The handicapping angle of trainers stepping aside in favour of accomplished catch drivers worked in both cases and without fail for astute observers of the Wednesday, September 28 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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The top example of the tactic played out in the $12,000 purse trotting feature. Trainer Jim McDonald turned over the reins of Hesgotlegs to the track's 2011 leading driver, Wally Hennessey, who drove the gelding one other time, winning on July 23. The result tonight was a pocket trip win in 1:56 over the fraction-setting Whosgoinwhosstayin, in rein to Ed Hensley, with Keystone Thomas, partnered by Bruce Ranger, following in for third.
Jim McDonald had driven Hesgotlegs to a tight runner-up finish on the meet's opening card of September 21. This time out, Hennessey had the six-year-old Feel Like Winner-Jalambaya gelding hustling quickest of all off the gate and surrendering the lead only to Whosgoingwhosstayin at the quarter in :27.3. After the first over move of Good Luck Penny flattened out at the top of the stretch, Hesgotlegs comfortably wheeled through for his third win in eleven starts this year for owner Gary Edwards of Ottawa, Ont.
Just one race earlier, co-owner and trainer Peter Sarnie relinquished race bike duty on claiming pacer Jaguars Legacy to Mike Micallef. The result was a front end score in 1:57.1 for the five-year-old N Aboriginal-Millers Jaguar gelding. She Feels Good brushed up from last to second for driver Fern Paquet Jr. with Joey Jookiss, in rein to Robert Hoffman, able to hold third.
An interesting newcomer to the South Florida scene, Northern Companion, made his Pompano debut on the September 28 program and finished fifth against non-winners of two company. His life's mark of 1:58.2 was taken in his final start on the Ohio Fair Circuit at the Greenville Fair on August 24. The Cambest-Smoke It Out three- year-old colt is now owned Dorothy Zarza of Lake Worth, Florida and in the care of trainer Howard Klohr.
(With files from Pompano Park)