Lucys Pearl, fresh off of a seasonal best 1:51.4 win in conditioned company one week ago and stepping up to the top class this night, scored a handy win in Monday’s $10,000 Open Handicap Pace for mares in 1:52.1 at Pompano Park.
Confidently handled by Wally Hennessey, the four-year-old daughter of Well Said, owned by Elizabeth Novak along with trainer Ron Gurfein, darted first out of the gate and then yielded briefly at the opening station in :27.3. She then retook command just a few long strides later and controlled the proceedings the rest of the journey, clocking fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.2 before a :27.4 sprint home sealed the deal in 1:52.1 over a track dulled by heavy rains prior to post time.
All Charged Up, driven by Kevin Wallis, finish second, while Limelight and Dave Ingraham teamed up to be third.
"This is the first time I have driven this mare and she raced giant from off the pace for Steve (Condren) last week,” said driver Wally Hennessey. “Ronnie (trainer Gurfein) said, 'don't be afraid to put her on the lead...she's won half her races that way.' So, I thought, 'let me leave a little with her.'
"When Joe's (Pavia) mare (Senorita Santanna) went by, I thought it would be a good idea to re-take and try to control the pace. She went a big mile on this track, which may have been a tick or two off because of the weather."
For Lucys Pearl, it was her second win in only four starts this year. The 13-time winner sent her career earnings to $191,986 with the win.
Her step up in class didn't seem to bother the wagering public, who sent her off as the 7-5 choice. She paid $4.80.
One race later, Fashion Ruffles, driven by Dave Ingraham, pulled off an 18 to 1 upset in the co-featured pace for mares. She scored in a lifetime best 1:52.3.
Pacific Date, with Aaron Byron aboard, was second, with Cheap N Easy and Joe Pavia, Jr. teaming up for show honours.
Fashion Ruffles, a seven-year-old daughter of Village Jolt, owned by Patricia Connor along with trainer Kelly Case, was biding her time early as there were several lead changes during hot panels of :26.3, :54.1 and 1:22.4 with Fiesta Camcun, Sinspirational, Artful Impulse and, finally, Pacific Date mixing it up big time.
Turning for home, Pacific Date, on a three-wide binge, stuck her head in front with Sinspirational between horses and Artful Impulse still battling on the inside. But Fashion Ruffles, on a double-bubble surge of her own around the final bend, had the most at the end, scoring the narrow victory - her second of the year in six starts.
Her winning time was two full seconds better than her previous mark and sent her lifetime earnings to $103,177. She paid $38.20.
In Monday night's trotting feature, Renaldo Morales III piloted Ted Berry's Teezer Bree to his first win of the year in 1:56.4, significant inasmuch as the track's Pick-4 was unscathed, setting up a $25,000 guarantee for Wednesday night's Pick-4.
Monday’s Super Hi-5 resulted in a set of winning tickets. The combination of 5-1-7-3-4 paid $2,684.38. Because multiple tickets won, the carryover was pushed over $150,000 heading into the mid-week program.
(With files from Pompano Park)