Wild Wanda, perfectly handled by Ricky Macomber, scored a repeat victory — though hard earned — in Pompano Park’s $11,500 Open Handicap Pace for Fillies and Mares on Wednesday night (Dec. 23), stopping the clock in 1:51.3.
The four-year-old daughter of Palone Ranger, trained by Jamie Macomber for the Rheinheimer clan — Larry, Douglas, Jeanie and Mary Jo — scored by a half-length over a stubborn Precocious Beauty, driven by Aaron Byron. Just A Bee, making her first start after a seven-week hiatus, finished third for Mike Micallef, just a length away. Classic Carpet and Jets Are On picked up the remaining rewards in the field of six.
At the outset, Just A Bee and Classic Carpet duelled for early supremacy with the former putting the latter in the pocket through an opener of :27.2. Precocious Beauty was also in the early mix, but found a spot in third in front of Wild Wanda.
Right at that first marker, Macomber tilted Wild Wanda out and on the move and, with a few “reminders,” took the lead and marched over to the half in :55.3.
Once they straightened away for their journey up the backside, Precocious Beauty was out of fourth and on a mission forward, moving alongside Wild Wanda at the next station in 1:24.
In the lane, these two fought it out with Wild Wanda proving her superiority with a :27.3 closer.
After the event, Macomber said, “I wanted to make that early move and try to take control of the situation. Was I worried about Aaron [Byron]'s mare [Precocious Beauty] coming at me? The answer is ‘yes, I was!’ Anytime you have a mare that is as classy as she is you worry. But my mare is very good now and fought hard all the way down the lane.
“Mike [Micallef]'s mare [Just A Bee] went a very good mile for her first start back, so it’s a very deep field of fillies and mares here.”
The win pushed Wild Wanda’s scorecard to 5-7-2 in 21 season starts, good for earnings of $88,088 this year and $157,715 lifetime.
As the 6-5 favourite, Wild Wanda paid $4.60 to win.
Pompano also featured the finals of three Late Closing events on the Christmas Eve eve card — the $12,250 Interloper Trot for $8,000 claimers, the $11,100 Sea Eagle Pace for $6,000 claimers and the $10,100 Optimist Pace for $4,000 claimers.
The Interloper final went to Landonfitz, handled by Aaron Byron, who co-owns with Paul Kelly. Landonfitz had a winning margin of one and three-quarter lengths over the pacesetting Celtic Merchant, driven by Brad Kramer, with Wittys Winner third, four and a half lengths away. Browner Shuttle finished fourth while Princess Crown, last in the field of eight most of the journey, rallied for fifth.
Landonfitz, a five-year-old gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse, trained by Mark Winacott, showed speed leaving from mid-pack to settle in third back of Celtic Merchant (Brad Kramer) and Frenchmen (Mike Micallef) through early panels of :28 and :57. On the backside, Landonfitz took up the chase, settled in behind Celtic Merchant around the final bend and wore that one down midway through the lane for his fourth success of the year in 21 starts.
His $6,125 payday was the largest of Landonfitz’ career measuring 82 starts and sent his lifetime bounty to $68,872 -- $27,035 of that this year.
The Sea Eagle, named after Pompano Park’s first winner on February 4, 1964, went to the Florida-bred Goldstar Raider, driven by John MacDonald for trainer Gary Mc Donald and The Three Gees Stable. This six-year-old altered son of Rock On went a brave first over journey to score by three-parts of a length over Geared To Win (Andy Santeramo) in 1:53.4. My Buddy Mason, taking command just after the hot :26.4 opening panel and carding subsequent fractions of :55 and 1:24, finished third for Dave Ingraham, just a nose back of Geared To Win. On The Green closed fastest of all to be fourth while Mixed Media finished fifth in the field of nine.
Goldstar Raider was away in good order and fourth before tilting out on turn two and churning forward, moving into second around the final bend and getting by the stubborn My Buddy Mason then holding off Geared To Win on the far outside.
The win was Goldstar Raider’s 10th of the year, sending his earnings to $37,276 and $150,767 lifetime.
As the 8-5 public choice, Goldstar Raider paid $5.20 to his faithful.
The Optimist went to the Heddy Nelson-owned, Sandy Hollon-trained W F N, named after one of the great, late Florida horsemen, William Faye Nelson.
This seven-year-old gelded son of Relentless Yankee, driven by Kevin Wallis, zipped out of the gate from Pompano’s coveted number five post to take the field through a demanding opening quarter in :26.2 before relenting to Flak Jacket (Wally Hennessey). The latter sizzled past the half in :54.3, before W F N reclaimed the top spot with three-eighths to go and romped from there, posting a 1:23.2 clocking for three-quarters before stopping the final timer in 1:53.1.
Dr Flamingo, with Aaron Byron driving, rallied for second, four and a half lengths away, with the favourite, Clive Hanover, handled by Mike Micallef, next. Dynamic Rayzer rallied for fourth while Flak Jacket was fifth.
In winning for the fourth time in 29 starts this year, W F N enjoyed the biggest payday of his racing career spanning 127 starts -- $5,050 -- to send his seasonal earnings to $23,918 and lifetime bankroll to $73,863.
As second choice in the betting, W F N paid $10.20 to his faithful.
Also on Wednesday, Pompano Park paid tribute to the late Buddy Regan on the anniversary of his 79th birthday with a memorial held after the second race.
Regan, who recently passed away, established himself as one of the premier trainers, especially during the 1970s when he trained the winners of over $1 million for 10 consecutive years.
Among those in attendance were Lucien Fontaine, Mike Santa Maria, Myron Bell, Bobby Heil, Red Falhaber, Joe Faraldo, Esther Balenzano and Jerry Glantz, who were joined in the winner’s circle by Jim McDonald, Gregg McNair, Wally Hennessey, Kevin Wallis, Bob Connor and many other family and friends.
To top things off, Santa Claus made his appearance at Pompano Park, handing out sweets and treats to the many youngsters attending the races on Wednesday night.
Racing continues on Saturday night with a special appearance by USHWA’s Amateur Driver of the Year, Hannah Miller, who is scheduled to drive in two events. Post time returns to 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)