Image Of A Dream, driven by trainer Rick Plano, made her 100th career start a memorable one as the seven-year-old daughter of Rockin Image scored a repeat win in Pompano Park's $14,200 Open Pace for mares on Wednesday night (Jan. 5).
Stopping the timer in 1:52.1, Image Of A Dream used a different strategy this night in pinning a one-length defeat on the late-charging Crisp Mane (David Miller). Sea Shadows (Wally Hennessey) finished third after surging to a short lead around the final bend while Bye Bye Felicia and Sweet Heaven were next in a very classy field of six.
Coming from dead last turning for home in her win last week, Image Of A Dream changed tactics this time around by surging off the wings from her coveted five post along with favoured Sweet Heaven (post six), with the latter out-sprinting the former through an opening panel of :27.
Sweet Heaven continued to lead through a :56 first half with Image Of A Dream staying chilly in the garden spot while Sea Shadows was underway on a :27.1 backside binge of her own to engage Sweet Heaven heading into the final bend.
Past the third station in 1:23.3, the top two -- Sweet Heaven and Sea Shadows -- were side-by-side with Image Of A Dream finally able to wend her way out and fan three-wide for the drive to the wire.
Once straightened away, Image Of A Dream surged to the front at mid-stretch and only had to hold off the fastest closing Crisp Mane, which she handily did.
"Last week, I think I mentioned Plan A didn't work and Plan B didn't work and we had to go to a Plan C, which, thankfully, worked out," remarked driver/trainer Rick Plano in a post-race interview. "Tonight, Plan A worked.
"I knew that Mac's mare (John MacDonald driving Sweet Heaven) would be on the bit leaving and I thought I'd leave with my mare and get the two-hole trip. Things got a little dicey around the final turn but we found a seam and we were able to find some room to roam and my mare responded like she always does. Sometimes we get there and sometimes we don't. Tonight, we got there."
Owned by Maryann Plano. Image Of A Dream won for the 16th time and now shows lifetime earnings of $123,187.
Off as third betting choice at 7-2, Image Of A Dream paid $9.40 to win.
The $12,600 Open II Pace for mares went to Roll With Angel, driven by David Miller for trainer John Mungillo.
The five-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe was a relaxed third much of the way as Abuelita Hanover (Plano) and Tuapeka Jessie N were one-two through fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:23. She closed with tenacity (:28) to hit the wire in 1:51.3, a lifetime best performance. Brilliant Beauty and Primo Extremo were next in the field reduced to five with a scratch.
Owned by Finish Line Investors along with Thatsideofthefence, Jennifer Papiernik and Lawrence Willer, Roll With Angel, despite a handy win in her last start, was left as the third choice at 7-2 and returned $9 to win.
The $11,000 Open III Pace for mares went to Bellacache, driven by Ricky Macomber Jr., in a five-horse blanket finish with this quintet all within a neck of each other at the wire.
The six-year-old daughter of Aracache Hanover, trained by Jamie Macomber, who co-owns with Martin Budkey and James Stonecipher, nailed Ourlittlemiracle (David Miller) by a nostril on the wire, with LA Always Amartini (Joe Chindano Jr.) another lip back in third. Protect Blue Chip was yet another nose back in fourth with Rigginswind getting the nickel, just a nose further away in this wild finish.
Bellacache has a lifetime bankroll of $125,536 and, as third choice, paid $10.80 to win.
David Miller and Braxten Boyd each had driving doubles on the Wednesday card with Boyd winning the closing two legs of the Pick-5 with Mayday Volo ($55.20) and Gemalous ($7.20), the latter capping off a 2-2-5-3-1 Pick-5 combination worth $19,789.25 for the 50-cent ticket.
Racing continues on Sunday with a guaranteed $15,000 Pick-4 pool (industry low 12 per cent takeout), a $2,295 carryover in the Pick-6 and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $12,942. Post time is set for 7:20 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)