Joe Pavia Jr. and Andy Santeramo shared the spotlight during Pompano Park's racing program on Saturday night.
Pavia took top honours with Bestnotlie Hanover in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace in a photo finish over Santeramo's Spring Again in 1:51.2, and then came back to double his pleasure with Bet On The Law in a conditioned event for pacers in 1:51, the fastest mile of the night.
Bestnotlie Hanover, a seven-year-old gelded son of Western Hanover, got a picture perfect drive in the garden spot tracking pacesetting McSocks through panels of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:23.1. He took the lead turning for home and held off the late-charging Spring Again by a neck. McSocks held on for third while Hay Goodlooking and Avantage picked up the minors.
The winner is owned by the Just Win Racing Stable and, of course, trained by Pavia as well.
The 8-5 favourite, Northern Companion, failed to fire this night and wound up seventh.
Bet On The Law, making his 2013 debut, forged to the front after a contested :27.1 opener and carved up the rest of the numbers, sprinting his last half-mile in :54.4 to score an easy win over Stevie Rays Dream, driven by George Napolitano Jr. The fast-closing McGreat, handled by Dave Ingraham, was a non-threatening third.
This four-year-old altered son of Bettors Delight is owned by the consortium of Stephen Held, Joseph Barbera, AGC Stables and Dijo Racing. The win pushed his lifetime bounty over $225,000 as he begins his second year of competition.
Santeramo made his headline early when he guided My Dad Rocks to a front-stepping victory in 1:54.3. The win was his seventh in a row over a span of 10 days in which he has not had one other catch-drive. He nearly made it eight straight in the Open Pace with his late rally falling a "photo finish" short.
The 11-year-old Oozies Bad Boy also put in a startling performance, scoring for The Retired Life Stable and trainer-driver Rick Plano in 1:51.3. The win was Oozie's 40th lifetime pushing his career bounty over $300,000. He paced his opening half-mile in :55.4 and duplicated the feat in the second half-mile to score by three parts of a length over the late-charging Pride And Glory, handled by Matt Romano. The early leader, Rader Detector, finished third.
Pompano Park first Sunday night card will be March 3 and continue throughout the month of March.
(Pompano Park)