Andover America finally reached the winner's circle at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (December 11). The eight year-old brushed to the lead from fifth halfway through the mile, earned the lead around the final turn and went on to record a handy two-length win for Bruce Ranger in 1:54 during the $10,000 Open Trot.
Jesses Jo, driven by Ed Hensley, finished second, while Keystone Thomas, piloted by Joe Pavia Jr., wound up third.
Shes All In and Pure Barre picked up the final two purse cheques in the field of nine.
The winner, a classy son of Andover Hall, with 48 lifetime wins and $730,240 coming into the action, was unhurried early on as Keystone Thomas took the field to the opening quarter in :28.2. Keystone Thomas was soon replaced on the front end by Jesses Jo, who was hard pressed to make the lead off of a :27.3 second panel which placed him at the half in :56.
That's when Andover America was sent throttling by Ranger and he took the lead with authority around the final turn and put the field away turning for home.
"You know, a lot depends on how the race goes…whether the pace will be soft or hot, you, know, things like that,” Ranger said in a post-race interview. “Tonight, the pace was very hot, especially that second quarter and, when we hit the backside, I thought, 'now's the time!' He responded very well and that was that. He went a great mile."
Owned by Mc Trade Enterprises, Andover America was the 9-5 tote board favourite and returned $5.80 to his $2 backers.
The Open 2 Trot was won by the Dave Ingraham-driven Ill Tell You What ($9.20) in 1:55.1, while the Open 3 Trot was won by the Bruce Ranger-driven Sun Island ($10.00) in a lifetime best 1:55.
(With files from Pompano)