As one fan put it, “They could of just put up the replay from last week!”
Once again, Barbara Jensen’s Winbak Heavenly took top honours in Pompano Park’s Open Pace for the fillies and mares on Wednesday night.
Driven by Tom Sells for trainer Mike Deters, this four-year-old daughter of American Ideal picked up her third win in a row in scoring a very handy four length decision over Mach Me Not, handled by Dan Clements, in 1:52, a new lifetime mark.
That also was the official order of finish in last week’s event.
Scirocco Miley Kay and Mike Micallef teamed up for show honours while Keystone Christa and Bombilla Hanover were next in the quintet.
Indeed, the performance of Winbak Heavenly was almost identical to her victory of a week ago as she pulled entering the backstretch some four lengths off the lead and used a :27.3 blitz to take command around the final turn.
From there, it was a cakewalk as the mare opened up her insurmountable lead in the lane.
After the event, Sells said, “She’s sharp as a tack right now. She can grind a long way...I mean a long way...and she was at her best tonight. When you write the story, don’t give the credit to me, give it to the mare!”
For Winbak Heavenly, it was her fifth win of the year in only 17 starts -- she has 13 wins lifetime -- and she’s now banked $168,067 during her career. Winbak Heavenly was 1-5 on the toteboard and paid $2.60 to win.
Gale Warning, the 11-year-old veteran warrior owned by Ciro Gentile along with trainer Rod Lorenzo, won for the 64th time during his illustrious career -- this time coming from off the pace to score in 1:56.1 for Mike Micallef.
The gelded son of Strong Gale was fourth in the early going as Its Payday Friday, driven by Dan Clements, and Adenium, handled by Aaron Byron, jostled for the early lead with the latter taking over at the :27.3 opener and taking the field through a half in :56 with Majestic Won, with Mickey McNichol in the bike, third and Gale Warning fourth.
Heading into the final turn, Majestic Won brushed up to take command with Its Payday Friday in hot pursuit and Gale Warning following the live cover flow.
In the lane, Gale Warning brushed to the front and went on to score the victory measuring one and a half lengths with “Friday” second, Majestic Won third and Tug River Dylan fourth.
The 6-5 favourite, Trot Fudge Sundae, who seems to like the being close up early, was thwarted in that strategy when several others left from inside posts and finished fifth in the octet.
After the race, Micallef said, “What can I say? This is just a grand warrior that gives his all every start. We got a dream trip tonight and he knows how to reach the winner’s circle. He’s just great!”
Gale Warning now has five wins for the year -- this one pushing his lifetime bounty to $651,727 in 242 lifetime starts.
Second choice in the wagering, Gale Warning paid $5.80 to win.
(With files from Pompano Park)