A hot pace on a hot night lead to a major upset in the $14,000 Winners Over Handicap Pace on the Saturday, May 28 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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Maxines Menace, an eight-year-old Cambest-Maxines Bandit gelding, was kept far back of incessant front end battles to score a 15-1 upset.
With regular pilot Robert Hoffman in the bike, the career winner of over $173,000 sat seventh in the opening half on the 79 degree evening. Card Dealer (Dan Clements) traded the lead with Sugars Pride (Chuck Connor Jr.) and race favourite Four Starz Bling (Wally Hennessey) in :26.2 and :55.1.
Heading into the backstretch for the final time, Card Dealer made the lead for the second time and hit the final turn in 1:23. In the stretch, with the front end collapsing, Maxines Menace swung out five-wide to win a wild five-horse scrap to the wire in 1:52.2. Jerrys Brown Gold, in rein to Tom Sells, was second and D'Artagnan, partnered by Veral Bowman, picked up the pieces to round out the trifecta.
The winner is co-owned by trainer Howard Klohr with Phyllis Smith of Delray Beach, Florida.
Also on the Saturday evening program, another recent Ontario import to the Tom Artandi barn stepped to a sharp life's mark of 1:54. Luckywhitesocks, a seven-year-old Northern Luck-Feelin Moody gelding, was guided to his first Florida win by Dan Clements in the event for $6,000-$8,000 claiming pacers.
The final week of four nights per week of live action is just ahead at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.
As of the second of June, Tuesday night racing is dropped from the schedule and Monday programs will also be dropped for the final month of the current meet in July.
(Pompano Park)